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AN 

ESSAY 

OS THE 

LIFE 

OF THE 

HONOURABLE MAJOR GENERAL 

ISRAEL PUTNAM 

ADDRESSED TO 

THE STATE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI IN 

CONNECTICUT, 

AikI first published by their order. 

BY COL. DAVID HUMPHREYS. 

WITH 

NOTES AND ADDITIONS. 



WITH AN 

APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING AN 
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL 

SKETCH 

OP 

BY S. SWETT. 
BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL AVEfeY, 
»7Vo. 89 Cowt Street. 

1818. 



TO THE 



HON. COL. JEREMIAH WADSWORTH, 

President of the State Society of the Cincinnati 
in Connecticut, &c. 



My dear Sir, 

Unavoidable absence will prevent me 
from performing the grateful task assigned 
me by the State Society of the Cincinnati on 
the fourth day of July next. Though I can- 
not personally address them, I wish to demon- 
strate, by some token of affectionate remem- 
brance, the sense I entertain of the honour 
they have more than once conferred' upon me 
hy their suffrages. 

Meditating in what manner to accomplish 
this object, it occurred to me, that an attempt 
to preserve the actions of General Putnam, in 
the archives of our State Society, would be 
acceptabJe to its m^ibers, as they had all 
served with great satisfaction under his imme- 
diate orders. An essay on the life of a per- 



b LETTER TO COLONEL WADSWbRTH. 

son SO elevated in military rank, and so con- 
versant in extraordinary scenes, could not be 
destitute of amusement and instruction, and 
vrould possess the advantage of presenting for 
imitation a respectable model of public and 
private virtues. 

General Putnam is universally acknowledg- 
ed to have been as brave and as honest a man 
as ever America produced; but the distin- 
guishing features of his character, and the par- 
ticular transactions of his life, are but imper- 
fectly knovt^n. He seems to have been form- 
ed on purpose for the age in which he lived. 
His native courage, unshaken integrity, and 
established reputation as a soldier, were ne- 
cessary in the early stages of our opposition to 
the designs of Great Britain, and gave un- 
bounded confidence to our troops in their first 
conflicts in the field of battle. 

The enclosed manuscript justly claims in- 
dulgence for its venial errors, as it is the first 
effort in Biography that has been made on ^ 
this continent. The attempt, 1 am conscious, 
is laudable, whatever may be the failure in 
point of execution. 

I am happy to find the Society of the Cin- 
cinnati is now generally regarded in a favoura- 



LETTER TO COLONEL WADSWORTH. 7 

ble manner. Mankind, with few exceptions, 
are disposed to do justice to the motives on 
which it was founded. For ourselves, we 
can never recall to mind the occasion, without 
feehng the most tender emotions of friendship 
and sensibility. At the dissolution of the ar- 
my, w^hen we retired to separate walks of life, 
from the toils of a successful war, in which we 
had been associated during a very important 
part of our lives, the pleasing idea, and the 
fond hope of meeting once a year, which gave 
birth to our fraternal institution^ were necessa- 
ry consolations to sooth the pangs that tore 
our bosoms at the melancholy hour of parting. 
When our hands touched, perhaps for the last 
time, and our tongues refused to perform their 
office in bidding farewell, heaven witnessed 
and approved the purity of our mtentions in 
the ardour of our affections. May we per- 
severe in the union of our friendship, and the 
exertion of our benevolence; regardless of the 
censures of jealous suspicion, which charges 
our designs with selfishness, and ascribes our 
actions to improper motives; while we real- 
ize sentiments of a nobler nature in our anni- 
versary festivities, and our hearts dilate with 
ap honest joy, in opening the hand of benefi- 



8 LETTER TO COLONEL WADSWORTH. 

cence to the indigent widow and unprotected 
orphan of our departed friends. 

I pray jou, my dear Sir, to present my 
most respectful compliments to the members 
of the Society, and to assure them, on my 
part, that whensoever it shall be in my power, 
I shall esteem it the felicity of my life to at- 
tend their anniversaries. 
I have the honour to be. 

With sentiments of the highest consideration and 
esteem. 
Your most obedient and most humble servant, 

D. HUMPHREYS. 

Mount-Vernon, in Virginia, 
June 4, 1788. 



AiV 

ESSAY 



ON THE 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM* 



To TREAT of recent transactions and per- 
sons still living, is always a delicate, and fre- 
quently a thankless office. Yet, while the par- 
tiality of friends, or the malignity of enemies, 
decides with rashness on every delineation of 
character, or recital of circumstances, a con- 
solation remains, that distant nations, and re- 
moter ages, free from the influence of preju- 
dice or passion, will judge with impartiality, 
and appreciate with justice. We have fallen 
upon an era singularly prolific in extraordi- 
nary personages, and dignified by splendid 
events. Much is expected from the selections 
of the judicious biographer, as well as from 
the labours of the faithful historian. What- 
ever prudential reasons may now occur to 
postpone the portrait of our own times, the 
difficulties which oppose themselves to the 
execution, instead of being diminished, will in- 
crease with the lapse of years. Every day 
will extinguish some life that was dear to fame, 
2 



10 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

and obliterate the memorial of some deed 
which would have constituted the delight and 
admiration of the world. 

So transient and indistinguishable are the 
traits of character, so various and inexplicable 
the springs of action, so obscure and perisha- 
ble the remembrance of human affairs, that, 
xmless attempts are made to sketch the pic- 
ture, while the present generation is living, the 
likeness will be for ever lost, or only preserv- 
ed bj a vague recollection ; disguised perhaps, 
by the whimsical colourings of a creative im- 
agination. 

It will, doubtless, hereafter be an object of 
regret, that those who, having themselves 
been conspicuous actors on the theatre of pub- 
lic hfe, and who, in conjunction with a knowl- 
edge of facts, possess abilities to paint those 
characters, and describe those events which, 
during the progress of the American Revolu- 
tion, interested and astonished mankind, should 
feel an insuperable reluctance to assume the 
task-^a task which, if executed with fidelity, 
must, from the dignity of its subject, become 
grateful to the patriots of all nations, and 
profitable in example to the remotest posteri- 
ty. Equally severe will be the mortification 
of contemplating the reveries and fictions 
w^hich have been substituted by hacknied writ- 
ers in the place of historical facts. Nor should 
we suppress our indignation against that class 
of professional authors, who, placed in the 
vale of penury p.nd obscurity, at an immense 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. II 

distance from the scenes of action, and all op- 
portunities of acquiring the necessary docu- 
ments, with insufferable effrontery, obtrude 
their fallacious and crude performances on a 
credulous public. Did the result of their lu- 
cubrations terminate only in relieving their own 
distresses, or gratifying their individual vanity, 
it might be passed in silent contempt. But 
the effect is extensive, permanent, and perni- 
cious. The lie,* however improbable or 
monstrous, which has once assumed the sem- 
blance of truth, by being often repeated with 
minute and plausible particulars, is, at length, 
so thoroughly established, as to obtain uni- 
versal credit, defy contradiction, and frustrate 
every effort of refutation. Such is the mis- 
chief, such are the unhappy consequences on 
the bewildered mind, that the reader has no 
alternative, but to become the dupe of his 
credulity, or distrust the veracity of almost all 
human testimony. Aftsr having long been the 
sport of fiction, he will, perhaps, probably run 
into the opposite extreme, and give up all con- 
fidence in the annals of ancient as well as mod- 
ern times ; and thus the easy believer of fine 
fables and marvellous stories will find, at last, 
his historical faith change to scepticism, and 
end in infidelity. 



* The writer had here particularly m his eye, the Rhapsody 
palmed upon the public, under the name of a History, by a certain 
Frenchman, called D'Auberteiul: Perhaps so much falsehood, fol- 
ly and calumny was never before accumulated in a single perfoi'tii- 

ftljOC. 



12 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

The numerous errors and falsehoods rela- 
tive to the birth and achievements of Major- 
General Putnam, which have (at a former pe- 
riod) been circulated with assiduity on both 
sides of the Atlantic, and the uncertainty 
which appeared to prevail with respect to his 
real character,'^ first produced the resolution 
of writing this essay on his life, and induced 
the Editor to obtainf materials from that hero 
himself. If communications of such authentici- 
ty, if personal intimacy as an aid-de-camp to 
that General, or if subsequent military em- 
ployments, which afforded access to sourcesj 

* The following lines are extracted from a poem, entitled "The 
Frospect of America :" written bj the late ingenious Dr. Ladd. 

'* Hail Putnam ! hail, thou venerable name ! 

*' Tho' dark oblivion threats thy mighty fame, 

*' It threats in vain — for long shalt thou be known, 

** Who first in virtue and in battle shone. 

*' When fourscore years had blanch'd thy laurell'd head, 

'• Strong in thine age, the fiame of war was spread." 

On which Dr. Ladd made this note : 
'< Tlie brave Putnam seems to have been almost obscured amidst 
'^ the glare of succeeding worthies ; but his early and gallant ser- 
>■' Tices entitle him to an everlasting remembrar.cct" 

Other bards have aJso asserted the glory of this venerable vete- 
jan. in the first concise review of the principal American heroes 
V ho signalized themselves in the last war, the same character h 
\\n\$ represented : 

*' There stood stern Piitnam, seam'd with many a scar, 
" The veteran honors of an early war." 

The Vision of Columbus. J)ook V. 

i The editor seizes with eagerness an opportunity of acknowl- 
edging his obligations to Dr. AJbi^ence Waldo, who was soobliginsi: 
as to commit to writing many anecdotes, communicated to him by 
General Putnam in the course of the present year, 

■4 A multitude of proofs might be produced to demonstrate tha^ 
military facts cannot always be accurately known but by the com- 
mander in chief and Ins confidential officers. The Marqui? de 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 13 

of intelligence not open to others, give the 
writer any advantages, the unbiassed mind will 
decide how far thej exculpate him from the 
imputations of that ofFiciousness, ignorance and 
presumption, which, in others, have been re- 
prehended with severity. He only wishes that 
a premature and unfavourable construction 
may not be formed of his motive or object. 
Should tliis essay have any influence in correct- 

Chastelleux (whose opportunity to acquire genuine information, 
respecting those parts of the American war which he hath casually- 
mentioned, was better than that of any other writer) gives an ac- 
count of a grand forage which General Heath ordered to be made 
towards King's-bridge in tlie autumn of 1780. The Marquis, M'ho 
was present when the detachment marched, and to whom General 
Heath shewed the orders that were given to General Stark, the 
commanding officer of the expedition, observes that he had never 
seen, in manuscript, or print, more pertinent instructions. Now 
the fact isj that this detachment, under the pretext of a forage, was 
intended by the Commander in Chief to cooperate with the maia 
army in an attempt against the enemy's posts on York Island ; and 
that General Heath himself was then ignorant of the real design. 
The Commander in Chief spent a whole campaign in ripening 
this project. Boats,, mounted on travelling carriages, were kept 
constantly with the army. The marquis de la Fayette, at the 
head of the Light Infantry, was to have made the attack in 
the night on fort Washington. The period chosen for this enter- 
prise was the very time, when the army were to break up their 
camp and march into winter quarters : so that the Commander in 
Chief, moving in the dusk of the evening, would have been on the 
banks of the Hudson, with his whole force, to have supported the 
attack. The cautious manner in which the cooperation on the 
part of the troops sent by General Heath, on the pretende<l forage, 
was to have been conducted, Mill be understood from the foUov/ing 
secret instructions. 

To Brigadier General Stark, 

Head Quarters, Passaic Falls, JVov. 21, 1780. 

** Colonel Humphreys, one of my Aids-de-carap^ is 

*' charged by me with orders of a private and particular nature, 

** which he is to deliver to you, and which you arc to obey. He 

" will inform you of the necessity of this mode of communication. 

" I am. Sir, Sec. 

"G.WASHINGTON" 

2* 



14 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

ing mistakes, or rescuing from oblivion the ac- 
tions of that distinguisiied veteran ; should it 
create an emulation to copy his domestic, man- 
ly and heroic virtues ; or should it prompt 
some more skilful hand to portray the illus- 
trious group of patriots, sages, and heroes, 
who have guided our councils, fought our bat- 
tles, and adorned the memorable epocha of 
independence, it will be an ample compensa- 

*' To Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, A. D. Camp. 

** You ?a*e immediately to proceed to West Point, niui 
** communicate the business committed to you, in confidence, to 
** Major General Heath, and to no other person whatsoever: from 
*' thence you will repair to the detachment at the White Plains, on 
*' Friday next, taking measures to prevent their leaving that 
*' place before you get to them. And in the course of the suc- 
*'ceeding night you may inform the comrnandiui; officer of the 
^* enterprise in contemplation against the enemy's posts on York 
•■* Island. 

** As the troops are constantly to lie on their arms, no'previons 
/' notice should be given : but they may be put in motion precisely 
'* at 4 o'clock, and commence a slow and regular march to King's- 
*' bridge, until they shall discover or be informed of the concerted 
^* signals being made, when tite march must be pressed with the 
** greatest rapidity. Parties of horse should be sent forward to 
" keep a look out for the signals. 

** Although the main body ought to be kept compact, patroles of 
^' horse and light parties might be sent towards East and West 
''Chester: and upon the signals being discovered, Sheldon's regi- 
"' ment and the Connecticut State troops (which may also be put 
'* in motion as soon as the orders can be communicated after 4 
" o'clock) should be pushed forward to intercept any of the enemy, 
*' who may attempt to gain Frog's Neck, and to cut off the Refu- 
** gee-corps at Morissania. A few men, with some address, may 
'= spread such an alarm as to prevent an attempt of the enemy to 
*' retreat to Frog's Neck, from an apprehension of surrounding 
''parties. 

*• You will communicate these instructions to the commanding 
'•officer of the detachment, who, upon his approach to King's- 
"' bridge, will receive orders from me as early as possible. 

•* Should the signals not be discovered, the troops will halt at 
*« least six miles from the bridge, until further iojlelligence ean be 
" obtained. 



LIFE OF GEN^ERAL PUTNAM. 15 

tlon for the trouble, and excite a consolatory 
reflection through every vicissitude of life. 

Israel Putnam, who, through a regular 
gradation of promotion, became the senior Ma- 
jor-General in the army of the United States, 
and next in rank to General Washington, was 
born at Salem, in the Province (now State) of 
Massachusetts, on the 7th day of January, 
1718. His father, Captain Joseph Putnam, 
was the son of Mr. John Putnam, who, with 
two brothers, came from the south of England, 
and were among the first settlers of Salem. 

When we thus behold a person, from the 
humble walks of life, starting unnoticed in the 

*<The absolute necessity of the most perfect secrecy is the occa- 
'' sion of communicating ray orders thiough this channel. 

** Given at Head Quarters, JPusscic Falls, 
" this 22 J dav of J\/'cv. 1780. 

'•' G. WASHINGTON." 

Never was a plan better arranged : and never did circumstaticcs 
promise more sure or complete success. The British were not 
only unalarmed, but our own troops vere likewise entirely mis- 
guided in their expectations. The accidental intervention of some 
vessels prevented at this time the attempt ; which was more ihan 
once resumed afterwards. Notwithstanding this favourite project 
v,as not ultimately effected, it was evidently not less bold in con- 
ception or feasible' in acciomplishm.ent, than that attempted so suc- 
cessfully ui Trenton, or than that which was brought to so glorious 
an issue in the successful siege of York-Town. 

It is true the Marquis de Chastelleux, whose professional 
knowledge and fountain-head intelligence have enabled him to de- 
scribe several actions better than they are elsewhere described, 
speaks in this instance of an ulterior object ; and says, that secrets 
%vere preserved more inviolably in the American than in the 
French army. His words are : 

•*C'est que le secret eat garde tres exactement a Tarmee Amer- 
** icaine ; peu de personnes ont part a la confiance d>i Chef, et en 
" general on y parle moins que dans les armees Francoises des 
** operations de la guerre, et de ce que I'on appelle ohez noas le^ 



16 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

career of fame, and, bj an undeviating pro- 
gress through a life of honour, arriving at the 
highest dignity in the state, curiosity is strong- 
ly excited, and philosophy loves to trace the 
path of glory from the cradle of obscurity to 
the summit of elevation. 

Although our ancestors, the first settlers of 
this land, amidst the extreme pressure of pov- 
erty and danger, early instituted schools for the 
education of youth designed for the learned 
professions, yet it was thought sufficient to in- 
struct those destined to labour on the earth, 
in reading, writing,, and such rudiments of 
arithmetic as might be requisite for keeping the 
accounts of their little transactions with each 
other. Few farmers' sons had more advan- 
tages, none less. In this state of mediocrity it 
was the lot of young Putnam to be placed. His 
early instruction was not considerable, and the 
active scenes of life in which he was afterwards 
engaged, prevented the opportunity of great 
literary improvement. His numerous original 
letters, though deficient in scholastic accuracy, 
always display the goodness of his heart, and 
frequently the strength of his native genius. 
He had a certain laconic mode of expression, 
and an unaffected epigrammatic turn, which 
characterised most of his writings. 

To compensate partially for the deficiency 
of education (though nothing can remove or 
counterbalance the inconveniencies experienc- 
ed from it in public life) he derived from his 
parents the source of innumerable advantages 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 17 

in the stamina of a vigorous constitution. Na- 
ture, liberal in bestowing on him bodilj 
strength, hardiness, and activity, was by no 
means parsimonious in mental endowments. 
While we leave the qualities of the under- 
standing to be developed in the process of 
life, it may not be improper, in this place, to 
designate some of the circumstances which 
were calculated to distinguish him afterwards 
as a partizan officer. 

Courage, enterprize, activity, and perse- 
verance were the first characteristics of his 
mind. There is a kind of mechanical courage, 
the offspring of pride, habit, or discipline, that 
may push a coward not only to perform his 
duty, but even to venture on acts of heroism. 
Putnam's courage was of a different species. 
It w^as ever attended with a serenity of soul, a 
clearness of conception, a degree of self-pos- 
session, and a superiority to all the vicissitudes 
of fortune, entirely distinct from any thing that 
can be produced by the ferment of blood, and 
flutter of spirits; which not unfrequently, pre- 
cipitate men to action, when stimulated by in- 
toxication or some other transient exhilaration. 
The heroic character, thus founded on consti- 
tution and animal spirits, cherished by educa- 
tion and ideas of personal freedom, confirmed 
by temperance and habits of exercise, was 
completed by the dictate of reason, the love of 
his country, and an invincible sense of duty. 
Such w^ere the qualities and principles that 
enabled him to meet unappalled, the shafts of 



18 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

adversity, and to pass in triumph through the 
furnace of affliction. 

His disposition was as frank and generous 
as his mind was fearless and independent. He 
disguised nothing; indeed he seemed incapa- 
ble of disguise. Perhaps in the intercourse 
he was ultimately obliged to have with an art- 
ful world, his sincerity, on some occasions, out- 
went his discretion. Although he had too 
much suavity in his nature to commence a 
quarrel, he had too much sensibility not to feel, 
and too much honour not to resent an intend- 
ed insult. The first time he went to Boston 
he was insulted for his rusticity by a boy of 
twice his size and age ; after bearing the sar- 
casms until his patience was worn out, he chal- 
lenged, engaged, and vanquished his unman- 
nerly antagonist, to the great diversion of a 
crowd of spectators. While a stripling, his 
ambition was to perfprm the labour of a man, 
and to excel in athletic diversions. In that 
rude, but masculine age, whenever the village- 
youth assembled on their usual occasions of 
festivity, pitching the bar, running, leaping, 
and wrestling were favourite amusements. At 
such gymnastic exercises (in which, during the 
heroic times of ancient Greece and Rome, 
conquest was considered as the promise of fu- 
ture military fame) he bore the palm from al- 
most every ring. 

Before the refinements of luxury, and the 
consequent increase of expences had rendered 
the maintenance of a family inconvenient or 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 19 

burdensome in America, the sexes entered in- 
to matrimony at an early age. Competence, 
attainable by all, was the limit of pursuit. 
After the hardships of making a new settle- 
ment were overcome, and the evils of penury 
removed, the inhabitants enjoyed, in the lot of 
equality, innocence and security, scenes equal- 
ly delightful with those pictured by the glow- 
ing imagination of the poets in their favourite 
pastoral life, or fabulous golden age. Indeed, 
the condition of mankind was never more en- 
viable. Neither disparity of age and fortune, 
nor schemes of amoilion and grandeur, nor 
the pride and avarice of high-minded and mer- 
cenary parents, interposed those obstacles to 
the union of congenial souls, which frequently 
in more pohshed society prevent, embitter or 
destroy all the felicity of the connubial state. 
Mr. Putnam before he attained the twenty- 
first year of his age, married Miss Pope, 
daughter of Mr. John Pope of Salem, by whom 
he had ten children, seven of whom are still 
living. He lost the wife of his youth in 1764. 
Some time after he married Mrs. Gardiner, 
ividow of the late Mr. Gardiner of Gardiner's 
Island, by whom he had no issue. She died 
in 1777." 

In the year 1739 he removed from Salem to 
Pomfret, an inland fertile town in Connecticut, 
forty miles east of Hartford : having here pur- 
chased a considerable tract of land he applied 
himself successfully to agriculture. 



20 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

The first years, on a new farm, are not how- 
ever exempt from disasters and disappoint- 
ments, which can onlj be remedied by stubborn 
and patient industry, i Our farmer, sufficiently 
occupied in building an house and barn, felling 
woods, making fences, sowing grain, planting 
orchards and taking care of his stock, had to 
encounter, in turn, the calamities occasioned by 
drought in summer, blast in harvest, loss of 
cattle in winter, and the desolation of his sheep- 
fold by wolves. In one night he had seventy 
fine sheep and goats killed, besides many lambs 
and kids wounded. This havoc was commit- 
ted by a she wolf, which, with her annual 
whelps, had for several years infested the vi- 
cinity. The young were commonly destroy- 
ed by the vigilance of the hunters, but the old 
one was too sagacious to come within reach of 
gunshot: upon being closely pursued she 
would generally fly to the western woods, and 
return the next winter with another litter of 
whelps. 

This wolf, at length became such an intol- 
erable nuisance, that Mr Putnam entered into 
a combination with five of his neighbours to 
hunt alternately until they could destroy her. 
Two by rotation, were to be constantly in pur- 
suit. It was known, that, having lost the toes 
from one foot, by a steel trap, she made one 
track shorter than the other. By this vestige, 
the pursuers recognized, in a light snow, the 
route of this pernicious animal. Having fol- 
lowed her to Connecticut river and found she 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 21 

had turned back in a direct course towards 
Pomfret, they immediately returned, and by 
ten o'clock Ihe nextmorning the blood-hounds 
had driven her into a den, about three miles 
distant from the house of Mr. Putnam : The 
people soon collected with dogs, guns, straw, 
fire and sulphur to attack the common enemy. 
With this apparatus several unsuccessful ef- 
forts were made to force her from the den. 
The hounds came back badly wounded and 
refused to return. The smoke of blazing 
straw had no effect. Nor did the fumes of 
buVnt brimstone, with which the cavern was 
filled, compel her to quit the retirement. 
Wearied with such fruitless attempts (which 
had brought the time to ten o'clock at night) 
Mr. Putnam tried once more to make his dog 
enter, but in vain ; he proposed to his negro 
man to go down into the cavern and shoot the 
wolf; the negro declined the hazardous ser- 
vice. Then it was that the master, angry 
at the disappointment, and declaring that he 
was ashamed to have a coward in his family, 
resolved himself to destroy the ferocious beast, 
lest he should escape through some unknown 
fissure of the rock. His neighbours strongly 
remonstrated against the perilous enterprize: 
but he, knowing that wild animals were intimi- 
dated by fire, and having provided several 
strips of birch-bark, the only combustible ma- 
terial which he could obtain, that would afford 
light in this deep and darksome cave, prepar- 
ed for his descent. Having, accordingly, di- 
3 



22 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

vested himself of his coat and waistcoat, and 
having a long rope fastened round his legs, by 
v^^hich he might oe pulled back, at a concert- 
ed signal, he entered head foremost, with the 
blazing torch in his hand. 

The aperture of the den, on the east side of 
a very high ledge of rocks, is about two feet 
square ; from thence it descends obliquely fif- 
teen feet, then running horizontally about ten 
more, it ascends gradually sixteen feet to- 
wards its termination. The sides of this sub- 
terraneous cavity are composed of smooth and 
solid rocks, which seem to have been divided 
from each other by some former earthquake. 
The top and bottom are also of stone, and the 
entrance, in winter, being covered with ice, is 
exceedingly slippery. It is in no place high 
enough for a man to raise himself upright, 
nor in any part more than three feet in width. 
Having groped his passage to the horizon- 
tal part of the den^ the most terrifying dark- 
ness appeared in front of the dim circle of 
light afforded by his torch. It was silent as 
the house of death. None but monsters of 
the desert had ever before explored this soli- 
tary mansion of horror. He, cautiously pro- 
ceeding onward, came to the ascent ; which he 
slowly mounted on his hands and knees until 
he discovered the glaring eye-balls of the 
wolf, who was sitting at the extremity of the 
cavern. Started at the sight of fire, she 
gnashed her teeth, and gave a sullen growl. 
As soon as he had made the necessary discov- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 23 

ery, he kicked the rope as a signal for pulling 
hitn out. The people, at the mouth of the 
den, who had listened with painful anxiety, 
hearing the growling of the wolf, and suppos- 
ing their friend to he in the most imminent 
danger, drew him forth with such celerity that 
his shirt was stripped over his head and his 
skin severely lacerated. After he had adjust- 
ed his clothes, and loaded his gun with nine 
buck-shot, holding a torch in ohe hand and 
the musket in the other, he descended the se- 
cond time. When he drew nearer than before, 
the wolf, assuming a still more fierce and ter- 
rible appearance, hownng, rolling her eyes, 
snapping her teeth, and dropping her head 
between her legs, was evidently m the atti- 
tude, and on the point of springing at him. At 
the critical instant he levelled and fired at her 
head. Stunned with the shock, and suffocated 
with the smoke, he immediately found himself 
drawn out of the cave. But having refreshed 
himself, and permitted the smoke to dissipate, 
he went down the third time. Once more he 
came within sight of the wolf, who appearing 
very passive, he applied the torch to her nose, 
and perceiving her dead, he took hold of her 
ears, and then kicking the rope (still tied round 
his legs) the people above with no small ex- 
ultation dragged them both out together. 

I have oftered these facts in greater detail, 
because they contain a display of character ; 
apd because they have been erroneously rela- 
ted in several European publications, and very 



\ 

24 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

much mutilated in the history of Connecticut, 
a work as replete with falsehood as destitute 
of genius, lately printed in London. 

Prosperity, at length, began to attend the 
agricultural affairs of Mr. Putnam. He was 
acknowledged to be a skilful and indefatigable 
manager. His fields were mostly enclosed 
with stone walls. His crops commonly suc- 
ceeded, because the land was well tilled and 
manured. His pastures aad meadows became 
luxuriant. His cattle were of the best breed, 
and in good order. His garden and fruit-trees 
prolific. With the avails of the surplusage of 
his produce, foreign articles were purchased. 
Within doors he found the compensation of 
his labors in the plenty of excellent provisions, 
as well as in the happiness of domestic society. 

A more particular description of his transi- 
tion from narrow to easy circumstances might 
be given ; but the mind that shall have ac- 
quired an idea of the habits of labour and sim- 
plicity, to which the industrious coloaists were 
accustomed, will readily supply the omission. 
The eifect of this gradual acquisition of prop- 
erty, generally favorable to individual virtue 
and public felicity, should not however be 
passed over in silence. If there is something 
fascinating in the charms of a country life, from 
the contemplation of beautiful landscapes, 
there is likewise something elevating to the 
soul, in the consciousness of being lord of the 
soil, and having the power of creating them. 
The man can scarcely be guilty of a sordid 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM 25 

action, or even descend to an ungenerous 
thought, who, removed from the apprehension 
of want, sees his farm dailj mehorating and 
assuming whatever appearance he pleases to 
prescribe. This situation converts the farmer 
into a species of rural philosopher, bj inspir- 
ing an honest pride in his rank as a freeman, 
flattering the natural propensity for personal 
independence, and nourishing an unlimited 
hospitality and philanthropy in his social char- 
acter. 

But the time had now arrived which was 
to turn the instruments of husbandry into wea- 
pons of hostility, and to exchange the hunting 
of wolves, who had ravaged the sheep-folds, 
for the pursuit after savages, who had desola- 
ted the frontiers. Mr. Putnam was about 37 
years old, when the war between England and 
France, which preceded the last, broke out in 
America. His reputation must have been 
favourably known to the government, since 
among the first troops that were levied by 
Connecticut, in 1755, he was appointed to the 
command of a company in Lyman's regiment 
of Provincials. I have mentioned his age at 
this period expressly to obviate a prevalent 
opinion, that he was far advanced in life when 
he commenced his military service. 

As he was extremely popular, he found no 
difficulty in enlisting his complement of recruits 
from the most hardy, enterprizing and respect- 
able young men of his neighbourhood. The 

regiment joined the army, at the opening of 

3# 



26 LIFJE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

the campaign, not far distant from Crown- 
Point. Soon after his arrival at camp, he be- 
came intimately acquainted with the famous 
partizan Captain, afterwards Major Rogers, 
with whom he was frequently associated in 
traversing the wilderness, reconnoitering the 
enemy's lines, gaining intelligence, and taking 
straggling prisoners, as well as in beating up 
the quarters and surprising the advanced pick- 
ets of their army. For these operations a 
corps of rangers was formed from the irregu- 
lars. The first time Rogers and Putnam 
were detached with a party of these light 
troops, it was the fortune of the latter to pre- 
serve, with his own hand, the life of the for- 
mer, and to cement their friendship with the 
blood of one of their enemies. 

The object of this expedition was to obtain 
an accurate knowledge of the position and 
state of the works at Crown-Point. It was 
impracticable to approach with their party 
near enough for this purpose, without being 
discovered. Alone, the undertaking was suf- 
ficiently hazardous, on account of the swarms 
of hostile Indians who infested the w^oods. 
Our two partizans, however, left all their men 
at a convenient distance, with strict orders to 
continue concealed until their return. Having 
thus cautiously taken their arrangements, they 
advanced with the profoundest silence in the 
evening ; and lay, during the night, contiguous 
to the fortress. Early in the morning they 
approached so close as to be able to give sat^ 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 27 

isfactory information to the General who had 
sent them, on the several points to which tlieir 
attention had been directed: but Captain Rog- 
ers, being at a Httle distance from Captain 
Putnam, fortuitously met a stout Frenchman, 
who instantly seized his fusee with one hand, 
and with the other attempted to stab him, 
while he called to an adjacent guard for as- 
sistance. The guard answered. Putnam, per- 
ceiving the imminent danger of his friend, and 
that no time was to be lost, or further alarm 
given by firing, ran rapidly to them, while 
they were yet struggling, and w^ith the but-end 
of his piece laid the Frenchman dead at his 
feet The partizans, to elude pursuit, pre- 
cipitated their flight, joined the party, and re- 
turned without loss to the encampment. Not 
many occasions occurred for partizans to dis- 
play their talents in the course of this summer. 
The war w^as chequered with various fortune 
in different quarters — such as the total defeat 
of General Braddock, and the splendid victory 
of Sir William Johnson over the French 
troops, commanded by the Baron Dieskau. 
The brilliancy of this success was necessaryx 
to console the Americans for the disgrace of 
that disaster. Here I might, indeed, take a 
pride in contrasting the conduct of the British 
regulars, who had been ambuscaded on the 
Monongahela, with that of the Provincials 
(under Johnson) who, having been attacked 
in their lines, gallantly repulsed the enemy, 
and took their general prisoner, did I consider 



28 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

myself at liberty to swell this essay with re- 
flections on events, in which Pntnani was not 
directly concerned. The time for which the 
colonial troops engaged to serve terminated 
with the campaign. Putnam w^as reappointed, 
and again took the field in 1756. 

Few are so ignorant of war as not to know, 
that military adventures, in the night, are al- 
ways extremely liable to accidents. Captain 
Putnam, having been commanded to^reconnoi- 
tre the enemy's camp at the Ovens near Ticon- 
deroga^ took the brave Lieutenant Robert 
Durkee as his companion. In attempting to 
execute these orders, he narrowly missed be- 
ing taken himself in the first instance, and kill- 
ing his friend in the second. It was customa- 
ry for the British and Provincial troops to 
place their fires round their camp, which fre- 
quently exposed them to the enemy's scouts 
and patroles. A contrary practice, then un- 
known in the English army, prevailed among 
the French and Indians. The plan w^as much 
more rational; they kept their fires in the cen- 
tre, lodged their men circularly at a distance, 
and posted their centinels in the surrounding 
darkness. Our partizans approached the 
camp, and supposing the centries were with- 
in the circle of fires, crept upon their hands 
and knees with the greatest possible caution, 
until, to their utter astonishment, they found 
themselves in the thickest of the enemy. The 
centinels, discovering them, fired and slightly 
wounded Durkee in the thiffh. He and Put- 



LIFE OP GENErAl PUTNAM. 29 

nam had no alterative. They fled. The lat- 
ter, being foremost and scarcely able to see 
his hand before him, soon plunged into a clay- 
pit. Durkee, almost at the identical moment, 
came tumbling after. Putnam by no means 
pleased at finding a companion, and believing 
him to be one of the enemy, lifted his toma- 
hawk to give the deadly blow, when Durkee, 
(who had followed so closely as to know him) 
enquired, whether he had escaped unhurt. 
Captain Putnam instantly recognizing the 
voice, dropped his weapon : and both, spring- 
ing from the pit, made good their retreat to 
the neighbouring ledges, amidst a shower of 
random shot. There they betook themselves 
to a large log, by the side of which they lodg- 
ed the remainder of the night. Before they 
lay down. Captain Putnam said he had a little 
rum in his canteen, which could never be more 
acceptable or necessary ; but on examining the 
canteen, which hung under his arm, he found 
the enemy had pierced it with their balls, and 
that there was not a drop of liquor left. The 
next day he found fourteen bullet holes in his 
blanket. 

In the same summer a body of the enemy, 
consisting of 600 men, attacked the baggage 
and provision waggons at a place called the 
half-way-brook ; it being equi-distant from 
Fort Edward, and the south end of Lake 
George. Having killed the oxen and plun- 
dered the waggons, they retreated with their 
booty without having met with such resistance 



30 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

as might have been expected from the strength 
of the escort. General Webb, upon receiving 
inteihgence of this disaster, ordered the Cap- 
tains Putnam and Rogers " to take 100 vol- 
" unteers in boats, with two wall-pieces and 
" two blunderbusses, and to proceed down 
" Lake George to a certain point : there to 
" leave the batteaux under a proper guard, 
" and thence to cross by land, so as to harrass, 
" and, if practicable, intercept the retreating 
'' enemy at the narrows." These orders were 
executed with so much punctuality, that the 
party arrived at the destined place half an 
hour before the hostile boats came in view. 
Here they waited, under cover, until the ene- 
my (ignorant of these proceedings) entered 
the narrows with their batteaux loaded with 
plunder. Then the volunteers poured upon 
them volley after volley, killed many of the 
oarsmen, sunk a number of their batteaux, and 
would soon have destroyed the whole body of 
the enemy, had not the unusual precipitancy 
of their passage (favoured by the wind) car- 
ried them through the narrows into the wide 
part of South Bay, where they were out of the 
reach of musket-shot. The sJiattered rem- 
nant of the little fleet soon arrived at Ticon- 
deroga, and gave information that Putnam and 
Rogers were at the narrows. A fresh party 
was instantly detached to cut them in pieces, 
on their return to Fort-Edward. Our parti- 
zans, sensible of the probability of such an at- 
tempt, and being full twenty miles from their 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 31 

boats, strained evey nerve to reach them as 
soon as possible ; which ihey effected the same 
night. Next day, when they had returned as 
far as Sabbath-Day point, they discovered, on 
shore, the beforementioned detachment of 300 
men, who had passed them in the night, and 
who now, on perceiving our party, took to 
their boats wnth the greatest alacrity, and 
rowed out to give battle. They advanced in 
hne^ maintaining a good mein, and felicitating 
themselves upon the prospect of an easy con- 
quest, from the great superiority of their num- 
bers. Flushed with these expectations, ti^ey 
were permitted to ^come within pistol-shot be- 
fore a 2:un was fired. At once, the wall-pie- 
ces and blunderbusses, which had been brought 
to rake them in the most vulnerable point, 
were discharged. As no such reception had 
been foreseen, the assailants were thrown into 
the utmost disorder. Their terror and confu- 
sion were greatly increased by a well-directed 
and most destructive fire of the small arms. 
The larger pieces being reloaded, without an- 
noyance, continued alternately with the mus- 
quetry to make dreadful havoc, until the rout 
was completed and the enemy driven back to 
Ticonderoga. In this action, one of the bark 
canoes contained twenty Indians, of whom fif- 
teen were killed. Great numbers, from other 
boats, both of French and Indians, were seen 
to fall overboard : but the account of their to- 
tal loss could never be ascertained. Rogers 
and Putnam had but one man killed, and two 



32 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

slightly wounded. They now landed on the 
point, and having refreshed their men at leis- 
ure, returned in good order to the British 
camp. 

Soon after these rencounters, as ingular kind 
of race was run by our nimble-iboted Provin- 
cial and an active young Frendiman. The 
liberty of each was by turns at stake. Gen- 
eral Webb, wanting a prisoner for the sake 
of intelligence, sent Capt. Putnam with five 
men to procure one. The Captain concealed 
himself near the road which leads from Ticon- 
deroga to the Ovens. His men seemed fond 
of shewing themselves, which unsoldierlike 
conduct he prohibited with the severest repre- 
hension. This rebuke they imputed to unne- 
cessary fear. The observation is as true as 
vulgar, that persons distinguishable for temer- 
ity, when there is no apparent danger, are 
generally poltroons whenever danger ap- 
proaches. They had not lain long, in the 
high grass, before a Frenchman and an Indian 
passed — the Indian was considerably in ad- 
vance. As soon as the former had gone by, 
Putnam, relying on the fidelity of his men, 
sprang up, ran, and ordered them to follow. 
After running about thirty rods, he seized the 
Frenchman by the shoulders, and forced him to 
surrender: But his prisoner, looking round, 

{perceiving no other enemy, and knowing the 
ndian would be ready in a moment to assist 
him, began to make an obstinate resistance. 
Putnam, finding himself betrayed by his men 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 33 

into a perilous dilemma, let go his hold, step- 
ped back and snapped his piece, which was 
levelled at the Frenchman's breast. It missed 
fire. Upon this he thought it most prudent, 
to retreat. The Frenchman, in turn, chased 
him back to his men, who, at last, raised them- 
selves from the grass ; which his pursuer es- 
pying in good time for himself, made his es- 
cape. Putnam, mortified that these men had 
frustrated his success, dismissed them with 
disgrace ; and not long after accomplished 
his object. Such little feats, as the capture of 
a single prisoner, may be of infinitely more 
consequence than some, who are unacquainted 
with military affairs, would be apt to imagine. 
In a country covered with woods, like that 
part of America, then the seat of war, the dif- 
ficulty of procuring, and the importance of pos- 
sessing good intelligence, can scarcely be con- 
ceived even by European commanders. They, 
however, who know its value, will not appre- 
ciate lightly the services of an able partizan. 

Nothing worthy of remark happened dur- 
ing this campaign, except the loss of Oswego. 
That fort, which had been built by General 
Shirley, to protect the peltry trade, cover the 
country on the Mohawk-River, and facihtate 
an invasion of Canada, by Frontenac and Ni- 
agara, fell into the hands of the enemy, with a 
garrison of sixteen hundred men, and one hun- 
dred pieces of cannon. 

The active services of Captain Putnam on 
every occasion attracted the admiration of the 
4 



34 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

public, and induced the Legislature of Con- 
necticut to promote hioi to a inajoritv in 1757. 

Lord Loudon was then Commander in Chief 
of the British forces in America. The expedi- 
tion against Crown-Point, which from the com- 
mencement of hostilities had been in contem- 
plation, seemed to give place to a more impor- 
tant operation that was meditated against 
Louis{>ouig. But the arrival of the Brest 
squadron at that place prevented the attempt; 
and the loss of Fort William Henry served 
to class this with the two former unsuccessful 
campaigns. It was rumoured, and partially 
credited at tlie time, that General Webb, who 
commanded in the northern department, had 
early intimation of the movement of the French 
army, and might have eifectually succoured the 
garrison. The subsequent facts will place the 
affair in its proper light, 

A few days before the seige, Major Putnam, 
with two hundred men, escorted General 
Webb from Fort Edward to Fort William 
Henry. The object was to examine the state 
of this fortification, which stood at the south- 
ern extremity of Lake George. Several abor- 
tive attempts having been^ made by Major 
Rogers and others in the night season, Major 
Putnam proposed to go down the lake in open 
day-light, land at Northwest-Bay, and tarry on 
shore until he could make satisfactory discove- 
ry of the enemy's actual situation at Ticondero- 
ga and the adjacent posts. The plan (which 



he suggested) of landing with only five men, 






LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 35 

and sending back the boats, to prevent detec- 
tion,was deemed too hazardous by the General. 
At length, however, he was |Derniitted to pro- 
ceed with eighteen vohinteers in three whale 
boats ; but biitore he arrived at Northwest-Bay 
he discovered a body ot^ men on an island. 
Immediately upon this, he left two boats to 
fish at a distance, that they might not occasion 
an alarai, and returned himself with the infor- 
mation. The General, seeing him rowing 
back with great velocity, in a single boat, con- 
cluded the others were captured, and sent a 
skiff, with orders for him alone to come on shore. 
After advising the General of the circumstanc- 
es, he urged the expediency of returnmg to 
make further discoveries, and brino^ off the 
boats. Leave was reluctantly given. He 
found his people, and, passing still onward, 
discovered (by the aid of a good perspective 
glass) a large army in motion. By this time 
several of the advanced canoes had nearly sur- 
rounded him, but by the swiftness of his whale- 
boats, he escaped through the midst of them. 
On his return he informed the General min- 
utely of all he had seen, and intimated his con- 
viction that the expedition must obviously be 
destined against Fort William Henry. That 
commander, strictly enjoining silence on the 
subject, directed him to put his men under an 
oath of secrecy, and to prepare, without loss of 
time, lo return to the Head Quarters of the 
army. Major Putnam observed, "he hoped 
" his Excellency did not intend to neglect so 



36 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

"fair an opportunity of giving battle, should 
" the enemy presume to land." "What do you 
" think we should do here?" replied the Gen- 
eral. Accordingly the next day he returned, 
and the day after Colonel Monro was ordered 
from Fort Edward, with his regiment, to rein- 
force the garrison. That officer took with 
him all his rich baggage and camp equipage, 
notwithstanding Major Putnam's advice to the 
contrary. The day following his arrival, the 
enemy landed and besieged the place. 

The Marquis de Montcalm, Commander 
in Chief for the French in Canada (intend- 
ing to take advantage of the absence of a 
large proportion of the British force, which he 
understood to be employed under Lord Lou- 
don against Louisbourg) had assembled what- 
ever men could be spared from Ticonderoga, 
Crown-Point, and the other garrisons : with 
these he had combined a considerable corps of 
Canadians, and a larger body of Indians than 
had ever before been collected ; making in the 
whole an army of nearly eight thousand men. 
Our garrison consisted of twenty-five hundred, 
and was commanded by Colonel Monro, a xery 
gallant officer, who found the means of send- 
ing express after express to General Webb, 
with an account of his situation, and the most 
pressing solicitation for succour. In the mean 
time, the army at Fort Edward, which, origin- 
ally amounted to about four thousand, had 
been considerably augmented by Johnson's 
troops and the militia. On the 8th or 9th day 
after the landing of the French, General 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 37 

Johnson (in consequence of repeated applica- 
tions) was suffered to march for the rehef of 
the garrison, with all tlie Provincials, Mihtia, 
and Putnam's Rangers: but before they had 
proceeded three miles, the order was counter- 
manded, and they returned. M. de MontcMm 
informed Major Putnam, when a prisoner in 
Canada, that one of his running Indians saw 
and yei x'ted this nioveraent; and, upon being 
question-ed illative] y to t^ie numbers, answer- 
ed ifi their figura ' ,e stflj, '''If you can count 
the leaves on the Irees^ you can count ihem.^'^ In 
effect.the operations oi the siege were suspend- 
ed, and preparations made for re-embarking, 
when another of the runners reported that the 
detachment had gone back. The Marquis de 
Montcahn, provided with a good train of artil- 
lery, meeting with no annoyance from the 
British army, and but inconsiderable interrup- 
tion from the garrison, accelerated his ap- 
proaches so rapidly, as to obtain possession of 
the fort in a short time after completing the 
investiture. An intercepted letter from Gene- 
ral Webb, advising the surVender,was sent into 
the fort to Colonel Monro by the French 
General. 

The garrison engaged not to serve for eigh- 
teen months, and were permitted to march out 
with the honours of war. But the savages 
regarded not the capitulation, nor could they 
be restrained by the utmost exertion of the 
Commanding Officer, from committ^g the 
most outrageous acts of cruelty. They strip- 
4* 



38 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

ped and plundered all the prisoners, and mur- 
dered great numbers in cold blood. Those 
who escaped hj flight, or the protection of the 
French, arrived in a forlorn condition at Fort 
Edward ; Among these was the commandant 
of the garrison. 

The daj succeeding this deplorable scene 
of carnage and barbarity, Major Putnam hav- 
ing been dispatched with his Rangers, to watch 
the motions of the enemy, came to the shore, 
when their rear was scarcely beyond the reach 
of musket-shot. They had carried oif all the 
cannon, stores and water-craft. The fort 
was demolished. The barracks, the out-hous- 
es and suttlers' booths were heaps of ruins. 
The fires, not yet extinct, and the smoke, of- 
fensive from the mucilaginous nature of the 
fuel, but illy concealed innumerable fragments 
of human skulls and bones, and, in some in- 
stances, carcases half-consumed. Dead bodies, 
weltering in blood, were every where to be 
seen, violated, with all the wanton mutilations 
of savage ingenuity. More than one hundred 
women, some with their brains still oozing 
from the battered heads, others with their 
whole hair wrenched collectively with the skin 
from the bloody skulls, and many (with their 
throats cut) most inhumanly stabbed and 
butchered, lay stripped entirely naked, with 
their bowels torn out, and afforded a spectacle 
too horrible for description. 

Not long after this misfortune, General Ly- 
man succeeded to the command of Fort Ed- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 39 

ward. He resolved to strengthen it. For 
this purpose one hundred and fifty men were 
employed in cutting timber. To cover them, 
Captain Little was posted (with fifty British 
Regulars) at the head of a thick swamp about 
one hundred rods eastward of the fort — to 
which his communication lay over a tongue of 
land, formed on the one side by the swamp, 
and by a creek on the other. 

One morning, at day break, a centinel saw 
indistinctly several birds, as he conceived, 
come from the swamp and fly over him with 
incredible swiftness. While he was ruminat- 
ing on these wonderful birds, and endeavouring 
to form some idea of their colour, shape and 
size, an arrow burled itself in the limb of a tree 
just above his head. He now discovered the 
quality and design of these winged messengers 
of fate, and gave the alarm. Instantly the 
working party began to retreat along the de- 
file. A large body of savages had concealed 
themselves m the morass before the guard was 
posted, and were attempting in this way tokill 
the centinel without noise,with design to surprise 
the whole party. Finding the alarm given, 
they rushed from the covert, shot and toma- 
hawked those who were nearest at hand, and 
pressed hard on the remainder of the unarmed 
fugitives. Captain Little flew to their relief, 
and, by pouring on the Indians a well timed fire, 
checkecl the pursuit, and enabled such of the 
fatigue-men as did not fall in the first onset, to 
retire to the fi^rt. Thither he sent for assist- 



40 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

ance, his little party being almost overpower- 
ed by numbers. But the commandant, imag- 
ining that the main body of the enemy were 
approaching for a general assault, called in 
his out-posts and shut the gates. 

Major Putnam lay, w^ith his Rangers, on an 
island adjacent to the fort. Having heard 
the musquetry, and learned that his friend 
Captain Little was in the utmost peril, he 
plunged into the river at the head of his corps, 
and waded through the water towards the 
place o^ engagement. This broug^ht him so 
near to the fort, that General Lyman apprized 
of his design, and unwilling that the lives of a 
few more brave men should be exposed to 
what he deemed inevitable destruction, mount- 
ed the parapet and ordered him to proceed no 
further. The major only took time to make 
the best short apology he could, and marched 
on. This is the only instance in the whole 
course of his military service wherein he did 
not pay the strictest obedience to orders ; and 
in this instance his motive was highly commen- 
dable. But when such conduct, even if sanc- 
tified by success, is passed over with impunity, 
it demonstrates that all is not right in the 
military system. In a disciplined army, such 
as that of the United States became under 
General Washington, an ofticer guilty of a 
slighter violation of orders, however elevated 
in rank or meritorious in service, would have 
been brought before the bar of a Couit Mar- 
tial. Were it not for the seductive tendency 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 41 

of a brave man's example, I might have been 
spared the mortification of making these re- 
marks on the conduct of an officer, whose dis- 
tinguishing characteristics were promptitude 
for duty and love of subordination, as well as 
cheerfulness to encounter every species ofdif- 
ficuhy and danger. 

The Rangers of Putnam soon opened their 
way for a junction with the httle handful of 
Regulars, who still obstinately maintained their 
ground. By his advice the whole rushed im- 
petuously w^ith shouts and huzzas into the 
swamp. The savages fled on every side, and 
were chased, with no inconsiderable loss on 
their part, as long as the day-light lasted. On 
ours only one man was killed in the pursuit. 
His death was immediately revenged by that 
of the Indian who shot him. This Indian was 
one of the runners — a chosen body of active 
young men, who are made use of not only to 
procure intelligence and convey tidings, but al- 
so to guard the rear on a retreat. 

Here it will not be unseasonable to mention 
some of the customs in war peculiar to the 
aborigines, which on the present as well as 
other occasions, they put in practice. When- 
ever a retreating, especially a flying party had 
gained tiie summit of a rising ground, they 
secreted one or two runners behind trees, 
copses, or bushes to fire at the enemy upon 
their ascending the hill. This commonly ac- 
casioned the enemy to halt and form for battle. 
lo the interim the runners used such dexterity 



42 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTxNAM. 

as to be rai'ely discovered, or if discovered, 
thej vanished behind the height and rejoined 
their brother warriors, who, having thns stol- 
en a distance, were oftentimes seen by their 
pursuers no more. Or if the pursuers wxre 
too eager they seldom failed to atone for their 
rashness by falling into an ambuscade. The 
Mohawks, who were afterwards much employ- 
ed in scouts under the orders of Major Putnam, 
and who were perfectly versed in all the wiles 
and stratagems of their countrymen, shewed 
him the mode of avoiding the evils of either 
alternative. In suspicious thickets, and at the 
borders of every considerable eminence, a mo- 
mentary pause was made, while they, in differ- 
ent parts, penetrated or ascended with a cau- 
tiousness that cannot be easily described. 
They seemed all eye and ear. When they 
found no lurking mischief, they would beckon 
with the baud, and pronounce the word 
"OwisH," withalong labial hissing, the O being 
almost quiescent. This was ever the watch- 
w^ord for the main body to advance. 

Indians who went to war together, and 
who, for any reason found it necessary to 
separate into different routes, always left two 
or three runners at the place of separation, to 
give timely notice to either party in case of 
pursuit. 

If a warrior chanced to straggle and lose 
himself in the woods, or be retarded by acci- 
dent or wound, the pirty missing him would 
frequently, on their march, break down a 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 43 

bush or a shrub, and leave the top pointing in 
the direction tiiey had gone, that the straggler, 
when he should behold it, might shape his 
course accordingly. 

We come to the campaign when General 
Abercrorabie took the command at Fort Ed- 
ward. That General ordered Major /Putnam, 
with sixty men, to proceed by land to South- 
Bay, on Lake George, for the purpose of 
making discoveries, and intercepting the ene- 
my's parties. The latter, in compliance with 
these orders, posted himself at Wood-Creek, 
near its entrance into South-Bav. On tiiis 
bank, which forms a jutting precipice ten or 
twelve feet above the wator, he erected a 
stone parapet thirty feet in length, and mask- 
ed it with young pine-trees, cut at a distance, 
and so artfully planted as to imitate the natu- 
ral growth. From hence he sent back fifteen 
of his men, who had fallen sick. Distress for 
want of provisions, occasioned by the length 
of march, and time spent on this temporary 
fortification, compelled him to deviate from a 
rule he had established, never to permit a gun 
to be fired but at an enemy while on a scout. 
He was now obliged himself to shoot a buck, 
which had jumped into the creek, in order to 
eke out their scanty subsistence until the fourth 
day after the completion of the works. About 
ten o'clock that evening, one of the men on 
duty at the margin of the bay, informed him 
that a fleet of bark canoes, filled with men, 
was steering towards the mouth of the creek. 



44 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

He immediately called in all bis centinels, and 
ordered every man to his post. A profound 
stillness reigned in the atmosphere, and the 
full moon shone with uncommon brightness. 
The creek, which the enemy entered, is about 
six rods wide, and the bank opposite to the 
parapet above twenty feet high. It was in- 
tended to permit the canoes in front to pass — - 
they had accordingly just passed, when a sol- 
dier accidentally struck his firelock against a 
stone. The commanding officer in the van 
canoe heard the noise, and repeated several 
times the savage watch-word, — Owish ! In- 
stantly the canoes huddled together, with their 
centre precisely in front of the works, cover- 
ing the creek for a considerable distance above 
and below. The officers appeared to be in 
deep consultation, and the fleet on the point of 
returning, v»^hen Major Putnam, who had or- 
dered his men in the most peremptory manner 
not to fire until he should set the example, 
gave the signal, by discharging his piece. 
They fired. Nothing could exceed the inex- 
tricable confusion and apparent consternation 
occasioned by this well-concerted attack. But, 
at last, the enemy finding, from the unfrequen- 
cy (though there was no absolute intermission) 
in the firing, that the number of our men must 
be small, resolved to land below and surround 
them. Putnam, apprehensive of this from the 
movement, sent Lieutenant Robert Durkee,* 

• As the name of the brave Dui-kee will occur no mnre in these 
sheets, I may be indulged in mentioning his melanclioly fate. He 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 45 

with twelve men, about thirty rods down the 
creek, who arrived in time to repulse the party 
which 'attempted to land. Another small de- 
tachment, under Lieutenant Parsons, was or- 
dered up the creek to prevent any similar at- 
tempt. In the mean time Major Putnam kept 
up, through the whole night, an incessant and 
deadly fire on the main body of the enemy, 
without receiving any thing in return but shot 
void of effect, accompanied with dolorous 
groans, miserable shrieks, and dismal savage 
yells. After day-break he was advised that 
one part of the enemy had effected a landing 
considerably below, and were rapidly advanc- 
ing to cut off his retreat. Apprised of the 
great superiority still opposed to him, as well 
as of the situation of his own soldiers, some of 
whom were entirely destitute of ammunition, 
and the rest reduced to one or two rounds per 
man, he commanded them to swing their 
packs. By hastening the retreat, in good or- 
der, they had just time to retire far enough up 
the creek to prevent being enclosed. During 
this long-continued action, in which the Amep*- 
icans had slain at least fi\e times their own 
number, only one Provincial and one Indian 
were wounded on their side. These unfortu- 
nate men had been sent off for camp in the 



survived this v;ar, and was appointed a Captain in that v/ar which 
terminated in the acknowledg:nneiit of our Jndepe«4ence. In 1778 
he was wouu.Jed and taken prisoner by the savages at the battle of 
AVioming, on the Susquehannah. Havina: been condemned to be 
burnt, the Indians kept him in the flames with pitch-forks, uutU 
he expired in the most excruciating torments. 

5 



46 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

night, "with two men to assist them, and di- 
rections to proceed by Wood-Creek as the 
safest, though not the shortest route. ^ But 
having taken a nearer way, they were pursu- 
ed and overtaken by the Indians, who, from 
the blood on the leaves and bushes, believed 
that they were on the trail of our whole par- 
ty. The wounded, despairing of mercy, and 
unable to fly, insisted that the well soldiers 
should make their escape, which, on a mo- 
ment's deliberation, they effected. The Pro- 
vincial, whose thigh was broken hy a ball, up- 
on the approach of the savages, fired his 
piece, ancl killed three of them ; after which 
he was quickly hacked in pieces. The Indian, 
however, was saved alive. This man Major 
Putnam saw afterwards in Canada, where he 
likewise learned that his enemy, in the ren- 
counter at Wood-Creek, consisted of five hun- 
dred French and Indians, under the command 
of the celebrated partizan Molang, and that 
no party, since the war, had suffered so se- 
verely, as more than one-half of those who 
went out never returned. 

Our brave little company, reduced to forty 
in number, had proceeded along the bank of 
the creek about an hour's march, when Major 
Putnam, being in front, was fired upon by a 
party just at hand. He, rightly appreciating 
the advantage often obtained by assuming a 
bold countenance on a critical ^occasion, in a 
stentorophonick tone, ordered his men to rush 
on the enemy, and promised that they should 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 47 

soon give a good account of them. It proved 
to be a scout of Provincials, who conceived 
thej were firing upon the French ; but the 
commanding officer, knowing Putnam's voice, 
cried out, '" that ihey were all friends." — Upon 
this the Major told him abruptly, " that, 
friends or enemies, they all deserved to be 
hanged for not killing more when they had 
so fair a shot." In fact, but one man was 
mortally w^ounded. While these things were 
transacted, a faithful soldier, whose ammuni- 
tion had been nearly exhausted, made his way 
to the fort, and gave such information, that 
General Lyman was detached with five hun- 
dred men to cover the retreat. Major Put- 
nam met them at only twelve miles distance 
from the fort, to which they returned the 
next day. 

In the winter of 1757, when Colonel Havi- 
land w'as Commandant at Fort Edward, the 
barracks adjoining to the north-west bastion 
took fire. They extended within twelve feet 
of the magazine, which contained three hun- 
dred barrels of pow- der. On its first discovery, 
the fire raged with great violence. The Com- 
mandant endeavoured, in vain, by discharging 
some pieces of heavy artillery against the sup- 
porters of this flight of barracks, to level them 
with the ground. Putnam arrived from the 
island where he was stationed at the moment 
when the blaze approached that end which 
was contiguo'js to the magazine. Instantly a 
vigorous attempt was made to extinguish the 



48 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

conflagration. A waj was opened by a pos* 
tern gate to the river, and the soldiers were 
employed in bringing water ; which he, hav- 
ing mounted on a ladder to the eves of the 
building, received and threw upon the flame. 
It continued, notwithstanding their utmost ef- 
forts, to gain upon them. He stood, enveloped 
in smoke, so near the sheet of fire, that a pair 
of thick blanket mittens were burnt entirely 
from his hands ; he was supplied with another 
pair dipt in water. Colonel Haviland, fearing 
that he would perish in the flames, called to 
him to come down. But he entreated that 
he might be suffered to remain, since destruc- 
tion must inevitably ensue if their exertions 
should be remitted. The gallant Comman- 
dant, not less astonished than charmed at the 
boldness of his conduct, forbade any more ef- 
fects to be carried out of the fort, animated 
the men to redoubled diligence, and exclaim- 
ed, " if we must be blown up, we will go all 
together." At last, when the barracks were 
seen to bo tumbling, Putnam descended, plac- 
ed himself at the interval, and continued from 
an incessant rotation of replenished buckets to 
pour water upon the magazine. The outside 
planks were already consumed by the prox- 
imity of the fire, and as only one thickness of 
timber intervened, the trepidation now became 
general and extreme. Putnam, still undaunt- 
ed, covered with a cloud of cinders^ and 
scorched with the intensity of the heat, main- 
tained his position until the fire subsided, and 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 49 

the danger was wholly over. He had con- 
tended for one hour and an half with that 
terrible element. His legs, his thighs, his 
arms, and his face were blistered ; and when 
he pulled off his second pair of mittens, the 
skin from his hands and fingers followed 
them. It was a month before he recovered. 
The Commandant, to whom his merits had 
before endeared him, could not stifle the emo- 
tions of gratitude, due to the man who had 
been so instrumental in preserving the maga- 
zine, the fort, and the garrison. 

The repulse before Ticonderoga took place 
in 1758. General Abercrombie, the British 
Commander in Chief in America, conducted 
the expedition. His army, which amounted 
to nearly sixteen thousand Regulars and Pro- 
vincials, was amply supplied with artillery and 
military stores. This well-appointed corps 
passed over Lake George, and landed, with- 
out opposition, at the point of destination. 
The troops advanced in columns. Lord Howe, 
having Major Putnam with him, was in front 
of the centre. A body of about five hundred 
men, (the advance or pickets of the French 
army) which had fled at first, began to skir- 
mish with our left. " Putnam," said Lord 
Howe, " what means that firing ?" " I know 
not, but with your Lordship's leave will see," 
replied the former. " I will accompany you,'* 
rejoined the gallant young nobleman. In vain 
did Major Putnam attempt to dissuade him by 
5* 



50 LIFE OF GENERAL PtJTNAM. 

saying — " My Lord, if I am killed, the loss ot 
my life will be of little consequence, but the 
preservation of your's is of infinite importance 
to this army." The only answer w^as, " Put- 
nam, your life is as dear to you as mine is to 
me ; I am determined to go." One hundred 
of the van, under Major Putnam, filed off with 
Lord Howe. They soon met the left flank of 
the enemy's advance, by whose first fire his 
Lordship fell. — It was a loss indeed ; and 
particularly felt in the operations which oc- 
curred three days afterwards. His manners 
and his virtues had made him the idol of the 
army. From his first arrival in America, he 
had accommodated himself^ and his regiment 
to the pecuhar nature of the service. Exem- 
plary to the officer, a friend of the soldier, the 
model of discipline, he had not failed to en- 
counter every hardship and hazard. Nothing 
could be more calculated to inspire men with 
the rash animation of rage, or to temper it 
"with the cool perseverance of revenge, than 
the sight of such a hero, so beloved, fallen in 
his country's cause. It had the effect. Put- 
nam's party, having cut their way obliquely 
through the enemy's ranks, and having been 
joined by Captain D'Ell, with twenty men, to- 
gether with some other small parties, charged 
them so furiously in rear, that nearly three 

* He cut his hair short, and induced the regiment to follow the 
example. He fashioned their cloathing for the activity of service, 
and divested himself and them of every article of superflaous bag^ 
gage. 



tIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. !jl 

hundred were killed on the spot, and one 
hundred and forty-eight made prisoners. 

In the mean time, from the unskilfulness of 
the guides, some of our columns were bewil- 
dered. The left wing, seeing Putnam's party 
in their front, advancing over the dead bodies 
towards them, commenced a brisk and heavy 
fire, Avhich killed a serjeant and several pri- 
vates. Nor could they, by sounds or signs, 
be convinced of their mistake, until Major 
Putnam, preferring (if heaven had thus or- 
dained it) the loss of his own life to the loss 
of the lives of his brave associates, ran through 
the midst of the flying balls, and prevented 
the impending catastrophe. 

The tender feelings which Major Putnam 
possessed taught him to respect an unfortu- 
nate foe, and to strive, by every lenient art in 
his power, to alleviate the miseries of war. 
For this purpose he remained on the field 
until it began to grow dark, employed in col- 
lecting such of the enemy as were left wound- 
ed, to one place ; he gave them all the liquor 
and little refreshments which he could pro- 
cure; he furnished to each of them a blanket; 
he put three blankets under a French serjeant 
who was badly wounded through the body, 
and placed him in an easy posture by the side 
of a tree : the poor fellow could only squeeze 
his hand with an expressive grasp. "Ah," 
said Major Putnam, " depend upon it, my 
brave soldier, you shall be brought to the 



52 LIFE OF GExNERAL PUTNAM. 

camp as soon as possible, and the saoie care 
shall be taken of you as if you were rnj broth- 
er." The next morning Major Rogers was 
sent to reconnoitre the field, and to bring olF 
the wounded prisoners ; but finding the 
wounded unable to help themselves, in order 
to save trouble, he despatched every one of 
them to the world of spirits. Piitnarn's was 
not the only heart that bled. The Provincial 
and British officers, who became acquainted 
with the fact, were struck with inexpressible 
horror. 

Ticonderoga is surrounded on three sides 
hj water ; on the fourth, for some distance, 
extends a dangerous morass ; the remainder 
was then fortified with a line eight feet high, 
and planted with artillery. For one hundred 
yards in front the plain was covered with 
great trees, cut for the purpose of defence, 
whose interwoven and sharpened branches 
projected outwards. Notwithstanding these 
impediments, the engineer who had been em- 
ployed to reconnoitre, reported as his opinion, 
that the works might be carried with mus- 
ketry. The difficulty and delay of dragging 
the battering cannon over grounds almost im- 
practicable, induced the adoption of this fatal 
advice — to which, however, a rumour that the 
garrison, already consisting of four or five 
thousand men, was on the point of being aug- 
mented with three thousand more, probably 
contributed. The attack was as spirited in 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 53 

execution as ill-judged in design. The as- 
sailants, after having been for more than four 
hours exposed to a most fatal fire, without 
making any impression by their reiterated and 
obstinate proofs of valour, were ordered to re- 
treat. Major Putnam, who had acted as an 
aid in bring-ins: the Provincial resjiments suc- 
cessively to action, assisted in preserving or- 
der. It was said that a great number of the 
enemy were shot in the head, every other 
part having been concealed behind their works. 
The loss on our side was upwards of two 
thousand killed and wounded. Twenty-five 
hundred stands of arms were taken by the 
French. Our army, after sustaining this hav- 
ock, retreated with such extraordinary precip- 
itation, that they regained their camp at the 
southward of Lake George the evening after 
the action. 

The successes in other parts of America 
made amends for this defeat. Louisbourg, af- 
ter a vigorous siege, was reduced by the Gen- 
erals Amherst and Wolf: Frontenac, a post of 
importance on the communication between 
Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, surren- 
dered to Colonel Bradstreet : and Fort Du 
Quesne, situated at the confluence of Monon- 
gahela with the Ohio, (the possession of which 
had kindled the flame of war that now spread 
through the four quarters of the globe) was 
captured by General Forbes. 



54 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

A few adventures, in which the public inter- 
ests were httle concerned, but which, from 
their pecuharity, appear worthy of being pre- 
served, happened before the conchision of the 
year. As one day Major Putnam chanced to 
lie with a batteau and five men, on the eastern 
shore of the Hudson, near the Rapids, con- 
tiguous to which Fort Milier stood, his men 
on the opposite bank had given him to under- 
stand, that a large body of savages were in his 
rear, and would be upon him in a moment. 
To stay and be sacrificed — to attempt crossing 
and be shot — or to go down to the falls, with 
an almost absolute certainty of being drowned, 
were the sole alternatives tliat presented them- 
selves to his choice. So instantaneously was 
the latter adopted^ that one man who had ram- 
bled a little from the party, was, of necessity, 
left, and fell a miserable victim to savage bar- 
barity. The Indians arrived on the shore 
soon enough to fire many balls on the j^atteau 
before it could be got under way. No sooner 
had our batteau-men escaped, by favour of the 
rapidity of the current, beyond the reach of 
musket-shot, than death seemed only to have 
been avoided in one form to be encountered in 
another not less terrible. Prominent rocks, 
latent shelves, absorbing eddies, and abrupt 
descents, for a quarter of a mile, afforded 
scarcely the smallest chance of escaping with- 
out a miracle. Putnam, trusting himself to a 
good Providence, whose kindness he had often 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM 55 

experienced, rather than to men, whose ten- 
derest mercies are cruelty, was now seen to 
place himself sedately at the helm, and afford 
an astonishing spectacle of serenity. His com- 
panions, with a mixture of terror, admiration 
and wonder, saw him incessantly clianging the 
course, to avoid the jaws of ruin, (hat seemed 
expanded to swallow the whirling boat^ 
Twice he turned it fairly round to shun the 
rifts of rocks. Amidst these eddies, in which 
there w^as the greatest danger of its founder- 
ing, at one moment the sides were exposed to 
tiie fury of the waves ; then the stern, and 
next the bow glanced obliquely onward, with 
inconceivable velocity. — With not less amaze- 
ment the savages beheld him sometimes mount- 
ing the billows, then plunging abruptly down, 
at other times skilfully veering from the rocks, 
and shooting through the only narrow passage; 
until, at las^ they viewed the boat safely glid- 
ing on the smooth surface of the stream below. 
At this sight, it is asserted, that these rude 
sons of nature w^ere affected with the same 
kind of superstitious veneration which the En- 
ropaans, in the dark ages, entertained for some 
of their most valorous champions. They 
deemed the man invulnerable, whom their balls, 
on his pushing from shore, could not touch; 
and wdiom they had seGp steering in safety 
down the rapids that hact never before been 
passed. They conceived it would be an af- 
front against the Great Spirit to attempt to kill 



56 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

this favoured mortal with powder and ball, if 
they should ever see and know him again. 

In the month of August five hundred men 
were employed, under the orders of Majors 
Rogers and Putnam, to watch the motions of 
the enemy near Ticonderoga. At South-Bay 
they separated the party into two equal divis- 
ions, and Rogers took a position on Wood- 
Creek, twelve miles distant from Putnam. 

Upon being, some time afterwards, discov- 
ered, they formed a re-union, and concerted 
measures for returning to Fort Edward. 
.Their march through . the woods was in three 
divisions by files ; the right commanded by 
Rogers, the left by Putnam, and the centre 
by Captain D'EII. The first night they en- 
camped on the banks of Clear River^ about a 
mile from old Fort Ann, which had been for- 
merly built by General Nicholson. Next morn- 
ing Major Rogers, and a British officer named 
Irwin, incautiously suffered themselves, from a 
spirit of false emulation, to be engaged in firing 
at a mark. Nothing could have been more 
repugnant to the mihtary principles of Putnam 
than such conduct, or reprobated by him in 
more pointed terms. As soon as the heavy 
dew which had fallen the preceding night 
would permit, the detachment moved in one 
body, Putnam being in front. D'Ell in centre, 
and Rogers in the rear. The impervious 
growth of shrubs and under-brush that had 
sprung up, where the laud had been partially 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 57 

cleared some years before, occasioned this 
change in the order of march. At the moment 
of moving, the famous French partizan Mo- 
lang, who had been sent with five hundred 
men to intercept our party, was not more than 
one mile and an half distant from them. Hav- 
ing heard the firing, he hastened to lay an am- 
buscade precisely in that part of the wood 
most favourable to his project. Major Put- 
nam was just emerging from the thicket, into 
the common forest, when the enemy rose, and 
with discordant yells and whoops, commenced 
an attack upon the right of his division. Sur- 
prised, but undismayed, Putnam halted, return- 
ed the fire, and passed the word for the other 
divisions to advance for his support. D'Ell 
came. The action, though widely scattered, 
and principally fought between man and man, 
soon grev/ general and intensely warm. It 
would be as difficult as useless to describe this 
irregular and ferocious mode of fighting. Rog- 
ers came not up ; but, as he declared after- 
wards, formed a circular file between our par- 
ty and Wood-Creek, to prevent their being 
taken in rear or enfiladed. Successful as he 
commonly was, his conduct did not always 
pass without unfavourable imputation. Not- 
withstanding, it was a current saying in the 
camp, "that Rogers always sent, but Putnam 
led his men to action," yet, injustice, it ought 
to be remarked here, that the latter has never 
been known, in relating the story of this day's 
6 



58 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

disaster, to affix any stigma upon the conduct 
of the former. 

Major Putnam, perceiving it would be im- 
practicable to cross the creek, determined to 
maintain his ground. Inspired by his exam- 
ple, the officers and men behaved with great 
bravery: sometimes they fought aggregately 
in open view, and sometimes individually un- 
der cover ; taking aim from behind the bodies 
of trees, and actmg in a manner independent 
of each other. For himself, having discharged 
his fuzee several times, at length it missed fire, 
while the muzzle was pressed against the 
breast of a large and well proportioned savage. 
This warrior^ availing himself of the indefensi- 
ble attitude of his adversary, with a tremen- 
dous war-hoop, sprang forward, with his lifted 
hatchet, and compelled him to surrender; and 
having disarmed and bound him fast to a tree, 
returned to the battle. 

The intrepid Captains D'Ell and Harman, 
who now commanded, were forced to give 
ground for a little distance: the savages, con- 
ceiving this to be the certain harbinger of vic- 
tory, rushed impetuously on, with dreadful and 
redoubled cries. But our two partizans, col- 
lecting a handful of brave men, gave the pur- 
suers so warm a reception as to oblige tnem, 
in turn, to retreat a little beyond the spot at 
which the action had commenced Here they 
made a stand. This change of ground occa- 
sioned the tree to which Putnam was tied to 



LIFE OF GEMERAL PUTNAM. 59 

be directly between the fire of the two parties. 
Human imagination can hardly figure to itself a 
more deplorable situation. The balls flew 
incessantly from either side, many struck the 
tree, while some passed through the sleeves 
and skirts of his coat. In this state of jeopar- 
dy, unable to move his body, to stir his limbs, 
or even to incline his head, he remained more 
than an hour. So equally balanced, and so 
obstinate was the fight! At one moment, 
while the battle swerved in favour of the ene- 
my, a young savage chose an odd way of dis- 
covering his humour. He tound Putnam 
bound. He might have dispatched him at a 
blow. But he loved better to excite the ter- 
rors of the prisoner, by hurling a tomahawk 
at his head, or rather it should seem his object 
was to see how near he could throw it with- 
out touching him — the weapon struck in the 
tree a number of times at a nair's breadth dis- 
tance from the mark. When the Indian had 
finished his amusement, a French bas-officer 
(a much more inveterate savage by nature, 
though descended from so humane and polish- 
ed a nation)perceiving Putnam, came up to 
him, and, levelling a fuzee within a foot of his 
breast, attempted to discharge it — it missed 
fire. Ineffectually did the intended victim so- 
licit the treatment due to his situation, by re- 
peating that he was a prisoner of war. The 
degenerate Frenchman did not understand the 
language of honour or of nature: deaf to their 



60 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM, 

voice, and dead to sensibility, he violently, and 
repeatedly, pushed the muzzle of his gun 
against Putnam's ribs, and finally gave him a 
cruel blow on the javir with the but-end of his 
piece. After this dastardly deed he left him. 
At length the active intrepidity of D'Eli 
and Harman,"^ seconded by the persevering 
valour of their followers, prevailed. They 
drove from the field the enemy, who left 
about ninety dead behind them. As they 
were retiring, Putnam was untied by the In- 
dian who had made him prisoner, and whom 
he afterwards called master. Having been 
conducted for some distance from the place of 
action, he was stripped of his coat, vest, stock- 
ings and shoes ; loaded with as many of the 
packs of the wounded as could be piled upon 
him ; strongly pinioned, and his wrists tied as 
closely together as they could be pulled with 
a cord. After he had marched, through no 
pleasant paths, in this painful manner, for ma- 
ny a tedious mile, the party (who were exces- 
sively fatigued) halted to breathe. His hands 
were now immoderately swelled from the 
tightness of the ligature ; and the pain had 
become intolerable. His feet were so much 
scratched, that the blood dropped fast from 
them. Exhausted with bearing a burden above 
his strength, and frantic with torments exqui- 
site beyond endurance, he entreated the Irish 

* This worthy officer is still living (1788) at Marlborough in the 
State of Massachusetts. 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 61 

interpreter to implore, as the last and only 
grace he desired of the savages, that they 
would knock him on the head and take his 
scalp at once, or loose his hands. A French 
officer, instantly interposing, ordered his hands 
to be unbound, and some of the packs to be 
taken off. By this time the Indian who cap- 
tured him, and had been absent with the 
wounded, coming up, gave him a pair of mo- 
casons, and expressed great indignation at 
the unworthy treatment his prisoner had suf- 
fered. 

That savage chief again returned to the 
care of the Avounded, and the Indians, about 
two hundred in number, went before the rest 
of the party to the place where the whole 
were that night to encamp. They took with 
them Major Putnam, on whom, besides innu- 
merable other outrages, they had the barbarity 
to inflict a deep wound with the tomahawk in 
the left cheek. His sufferings were in this 
place to be consummated. A scene of horror, 
infinitely greater than had ever met his eyes 
before, was now preparing. It was deter- 
mined to roast him ahve. For this purpose 
they led him into a dark forest, stripped him, 
naked, bound him to a tree, and piled dry 
brush, with other fuel, at a small distance, in 
a circle round him. They accompanied their 
labours, as if for his funeral dirge, with 
screams and sounds inimitable but by savage 
voices. Then they set the piles on fire. A 
6# 



62 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM, 

sudden shawer damped the rising flame. Still 
thej strove to kindle it, until, at last, the blaze 
ran fiercely round the circle. Major Putnam 
soon began to feel the scorching heat. His 
hands were so tied that he could move his 
body. He often shifted sides as the fire ap- 
proached. This sight, at the very idea of 
which all but savages must shudder, afforded 
the highest diversion to his inhuman tormen- 
tors, who demonstrated the delirium of their 
joy by correspondent yells, dances, and gesti- 
culations. He saw clearly that his final hour 
was inevitably come. He summoned all his 
resolution, and composed his mind, as far as 
the circumstances could admit, to bid an eter- 
nal farewell to all he held most dear. To 
quit the Avorld would scarcely have cost a 
single pang ; but for the idea of home, but for 
the remembrance of domestic endearments, of 
the affectionate partner of his soul, and of 
their beloved offspring. His thought was ul- 
timately fixed on a happier state of existence, 
beyond the tortures he was beginning to en- 
dure. The bitterness of death, even of that 
death which is accompanied with the keenest 
agonies, was, in a manner, past — nature, with 
a feeble struggle, was quitting its last hold 
on sublunary things — when a French officer 
rushed through the crowd, opened a way by 
scattering the burning brands, and unbound 
the victim. It was Molang himself — to whom 
a savage, unwilling to see another human sa- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 63 

critice inimolated, had run and communicated 
the tidings. That commandant spurned and 
severely reprimanded the barbarians, whose 
nocturnal powvvas and heUish orgies he sud- 
denly ended. Putnam did not want for feel- 
ing or gratitude. The French commander, 
fearing to trust him alone with them, remain- 
ed until he could deliver him in safety into 
the hands of his master. 

The savage approached his prisoner kindly, 
and seemed to treat him with particular affec- 
tion. He offered him some hard biscuit; but 
finding that he could not chew them, on ac- 
count of the blow he had received from the 
Frenchman, this more humane savage soaked 
some of the biscuit in water, and made him 
suck the pulp-hke part. Determined, how- 
ever, not to loose his captive (the refreshment 
being finished) he took the mocasons from his 
feet, and tied them to one of his wrists : then 
directing him to lie down on his back upon 
the bare ground, he stretched one arm to its 
full length, and bound it fast to a young tree ; 
the other arm was extended and bound in 
the same manner — his legs were stretched 
apart and fastened to two saplings. Then a 
number of tall, but slender poles were cut 
down, which, with some long bushes, w^ere 
laid across his body from head to foot : on 
each side lay as many Indians as could conve- 
niently find lodging, in order to prevent the 
possibility of his escape. In this disagreeable 



i>i LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

iBind painful posture he remained until morn- 
ing. During this night, the longest and most 
dreary conceivable, our hero used to relate 
that he felt a ray of cheerfulness come casu- 
ally across his mind, and could not even re- 
frain from smiling when he reiiected on this 
ludicrous group for a painter, of which he 
himself w^as the principal figure. 

The next day he was allowed his blanket 
and mocasons, and permitted to march with- 
out carrying any pack, or receiving any in- 
sult. To allay his extreme hunger, a little 
bear's meat was given, which he sucked 
through his teeth. At night the party arrived 
at Ticonderoga, and the prisoner was placed 
under the care of a French o^uard. The sava- 
ges, w'ho had been prevented from glutting 
their diabolical thirst for blood, took other 
opportunity of manifesting their malevolence 
for the disappointment, by horrid grimaces 
and angry gestures; but they were suffered 
no more to offer violence or personal indignity 
to him. 

After having been examined by the Mar- 
quis de Montcalm, Major Putnam was con- 
ducted to Montreal by a French officer, who 
treated him with the greatest indulgence and 
humanity. 

At this place were several prisoners. Col- 
onel Peter Schuyler, remarkable for his phi- 
lanthropy, generosity, and friendship, was of 
the number. No sooner had he heard of Ma- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 65 

jor Putnam's arrival, than he went to the in- 
terpreter's quarters, and inquired whether he 
had a Provincial Major in his custody ? He 
found Major Putnam in a comfordess condi- 
tion — without coat, waistcoat, or hose— the 
remnant of his clothing miserably dirty and 
ragged — his beard long and squalid — his legs 
torn by thorns and briars — his face gashed 
with wounds and swollen with bruises. Colonel 
Schuyler, irritated beyond all sufferance at 
such a sight, could scarcely restrain his speech 
within limits, consistent with the prudence of 
a prisoner and the meekness of a christian. 
Major Putnam was immediately treated ac- 
cording to his rank, cloathed in a decent 
manner, and supplied with money by that 
liberal and sympathetic patron of the dis- 
tressed. 

The capture of Frontenac by General 
Bradstreet afforded occasion for an exchange 
of prisoners. Colonel Schuyler was compre- 
hended in the cartel, A generous spirit can 
never be satisfied with imposing tasks for 
its generosity to accomplish. Apprehensive 
if it should be known that Putnam was a 
distinguished partizan, his liberation hiight be 
retarded, and knowing that there were offi- 
cers who, from the length of their captivity, 
had a claim of priority to exchange, he had, 
by his happy address, induced the governor 
to offer, that whatever officer he might think 
proper to nominate should be included in the 



66 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

present cartel. With great politeness in man- 
ner, but seeming indifference as to object, he 
expressed his warmest acknowledgments to 
the governor, and said, " There is an old man 
here, who is a Provincial Major, and wishes 
to be at home with his wife and children ; he 
can do no good here or any where else : I 
believe your Excellency had better keep some 
of the young men, who have no wife or chil- 
dren to care for, and let the bid fellow go 
home with me." This justifiable finesse had 
the desired effect. 

At the house of Colonel Schuyler, Major 
Putnam became acquainted with Mrs. Howe, 
a fair captive, whose history would not be 
read without emotion, if it could be written in 
the same affecting manner in which I have 
often heard it told. She was still young and 
handsome herself, though she had two daugh- 
ters of marriageable age. Distress, which had 
, taken somewhat from the original redundancy 
of her bloom, and added a softening paleness 
to her cheeks, rendered her appearance the 
more engaging. Her face, that seemed to have 
been formed for the assemblage of dimples 
and smiles, was clouded with care. The natu- 
ral sweetness was not, however, soured by 
despondency and petulance, but chastened by 
humility and resignation. This mild daughter 
of sorrow looked as if she had known the day 
of prosperity, when serenity and gladness of 
soul were the inmates of her bosom. That 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 67 

day was past, and the once lively features 
now assumed a tender melancholy, which wit- 
nessed her irreparable loss. She needed not 
the customary weeds of mourning, or the fal- 
lacious pageantry of woe, to prove her widow- 
ed state. She was in that stage of affliction 
when the excess is so far abated as to permit 
the subject to be drawn into conversation, 
without opening the wound afresh. It is then 
rather a source of pleasure than pain to dwell 
upon the circumstances in narration. Every 
thing conspired to make her story interesting. 
Her first husband had been killed and scalped 
by the Indians some years before. By an un- 
expected assault, in 1756, upon Fort Dummer, 
where she then happened to be present with 
Mr. Howe, her second husband, the savages 
carried the fort5 murdered the greater part of 
the garrison, mangled in death her husband, 
and led her away with seven children into 
captivity. She was for some months kept with 
them ; and during their rambles she was fre- 
quently on the point of perishing with hunger, 
and as often subjected to hardships seemingly 
intolerable to one of so delicate a frame. 
Some time after the career of her miseries 
began, the Indians selected a couple of their 
young men to marry her daughters. The 
fright and disgust which the inteUigence of 
this intention occasioned to these poor young 
creatures, added infinitely to the sorrows and 
perplexities of their frantic mother. To pre- 



68 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

vent the hated connexion, all the activity of 
female resource was called into exertion. She 
found an opportunity of conveying to the 
governor a petition, that her daughters might 
be received into a convent for the sake of 
securing the salvation of their souls. Happily 
the pious fraud succeeded. 

About the same time the savages separated, 
and carried off her other five children into 
different tribes. She was ransomed by an 
elderly French officer for four hundred livres. 
Of no avail were the cries of this tender 
mother — a mother desolated by the loss of 
her children, who were thus torn from her 
fond embraces, and removed many hundred 
miles from each other, into the utmost recesses 
of Canada. With them (could they have been 
kept together) she would most willingly have 
wandered to the extremities of the world, and 
accepted as a desirable portion the cruel lot 
of slavery for life. But she was precluded 
from the sweet hope of ever beholding them 
again. The insufferable pang of parting, and 
the idea of eternal separation, planted the ar- 
rows of despair deep in her soul. Though all 
the world was no better than a desert, and 
all its inhabitants were then indifferent to her, 
yet the lovehness of her appearance in sorrow 
had awakened affections, which, in the aggra- 
vation of her troubles, were to become a new 
source of afflictions. 

The officer who bought her of the Indians 
had a son who also held a commission, and 



tIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 69 

resided with his father. During her continu- 
ance in tiie same house, at St. John's, the 
double attachment of the father and the son 
rendered her sitiiation extremely distressing. It 
is true, the calmness of age delighted to gaze 
respectfully on her beauty ; but the impetu- 
osity of youth was fired to madness by the 
sight of her charms. One day, the son, whose 
attentions had been long lavished upon her in 
vain, finding her alone in a chamber, forcibly- 
seized her hand, and solemnly declared that 
he would now satiate the passion which she 
had so long refused to indulge. She recurred 
to entreaties, struggles, and tears, those preva- 
lent female weapons which the distraction of 
danger not less than the promptness of genius 
is wont to supply ; while he, in tlie delirium 
of vexation and desire, snatched a dagger, and 
swoie he would put an end to her life if she 
persisted to struggle. Mrs. Howe, assuming 
the dignity of conscious virtue, told him It was 
what she most ardently wished, and begged 
him to plunge the polgnard through her heart, 
since the mutual importunities and jealousies 
of such rivals had rendered her life, though 
innocent, more irksome and insupportable 
than death itself Struck with a momentary 
compunction, iie seemed to relent, and relax 
his hold ; and she, avalliug herself of his 
irresolution, or absence of mind, escaped down 
the stairs. In her disordered state she told the 
whole transaction to his fathei, who directed 
7 



70 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

her, in future, to sleep in a small bed at the 
foot of that in which his wife lodged. The 
affair soon reached the governor's ears, and 
the joung officer was, shortly afterwards, sent 
on a tour of duty to Detroit. 

This gave her a short respite ; but she 
dreaded his return, and the humiliating insults 
for which she might be reserved. Her chil- 
dren, too, were ever present to her melan- 
choly mind. A stranger, a widow, a captive, 
she knew not where to apply for relief She 
had heard of the name of Schuyler — she was 
yet to learn, that it was only another appella- 
tion for the friend of suffering humanity. As 
that excellent man was on his way from Que- 
bec to the Jerseys, under a parole, for a limit- 
ed time, she came, with feeble and trembling 
steps, to him. The same maternal passion 
which sometimes overcomes the timidity of 
nature in the birds, when plundered of their 
callow nestlings, emboldened her, notwith- 
standing her native diffidence, to disclose 
those griefs which were ready to devour her 
in silence. While her delicate aspect was 
heightened to a glowing blush, for fear of of- 
fending by an inexcusable importunity, or of 
transgressing the rules of propriety, by repre- 
senting herself as being an object of admira- 
tion, she told, with artless simplicity, all the 
story of her woes. Colonel Schuyler, from 
that moment, became her protector, and en- 
deavoured to procure her hberty. The per- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 71 

son who purchased her from the savages, un- 
willing to pai t with so fair a purchase, de- 
manded a thousand Uvres as her ransom. But 
Colonel Schuyler, on his return to Quebec, 
obtained from the governor an order, m con- 
sequence of which Mrs. Howe was given up 
to him for four hundred livres; nor did his 
active goodness rest until every one of her 
five sons was restored to her. 

Business having made it necessary that Col- 
onel Schuyler should precede the prisoners 
who were exchanged, he recomuiended the 
fair captive to the protection of his friend Put- 
nam. She had just recovered from the mea- 
zles when the party was preparing to set oflf 
for New-England. By this time the young 
French officer had returned, with his passion 
rather increased than abated by absence. He 
pursued her wheresoever she went, and, al- 
though he cotild make no advances in her af- 
fection, he seemed resolved, by perseverance, 
to carry his point. Mrs. Howe, terrified by 
his treatment, was obliged to keep constantly 
near Major Putnam, who informed the young 
officer that he should protect that lady at the 
risk of his life."* 

In the long march from captivity, through 
an inhospitable wilderness, encumbered with 
five small children, she suffered incredible 

• Two or three inqidents respecting Mrs. Howe, which were 
received by the author from General Putnam, and inserted in the 
former editions, are omitted in this, as they appeared, oa fartheP 
information, to be mistakes* 



72 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

hardships. Though endowed with masculine 
fortitude, she was truly feminine in strength, 
and must have fainted by the way, had it not 
been for the assistance of Major Putnam. 
There were a thousand good offices which 
the helplessness of her condition demanded, 
and which the gentleness of his nature de- 
lighted to perform. He assisted in leading 
her little ones, and in carrying them over the 
swampy grounds and runs of water, with 
which their course was frequently intersected. 
He mino-led his own mess with that of the 
widow and the fatherless, and assisted them 
in supplying and preparing their provisions. 
Upon arriving within the settlements, they ex- 
perienced a reciprocal regret at separation, 
and were only consoled by the expectation of 
soon mingling in the embraces of their former 
acquaintances and dearest connexions. 

After the conquest of Canada, in 1760, she 
made a journey to Quebec, in order to bring 
back her two daughters, whom she had left 
in a convent. She found one of them married 
to a French officer. The other havino- con- 
tracted a great fondness for the religious sis- 
terhood, with reluctance consented to leave 
them and return. 

We now arrive at the period when the 
prowess of Britain, victorious alike by sea and 
by land, in the new and in the old world, had 
elevated that name fo the zenith of national 
glory. The conquest of Quebec opened the 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 73 

way for the total reduction of Canada. On 
the side of the Lakes, Amherst having cap- 
tured the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown- 
Point, apphed himself to strengthen the latter. 
Putnam, who had been raised to the rank of 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and present at these ope- 
rations, was employed the remainder of this 
and some part of the succeeding season, in 
superintending the parties which were detach- 
ed to procure timber and other materials for 
the fortification. 

In 1760, General Amherst, a sagacious, hu- 
mane, and experienced commander, planned 
the termination of the war in Canada, by a 
bloodless conquest. For this purpose, three 
armies were destined to co-operate, by differ- 
ent routes, against Montreal, the only remain- 
ing place of strength the enemy held in that 
country. The corps formerly commanded by 
General Wolfe, now by General Murray, was 
ordered to ascend the river St. Lawrence ; an- 
other, under Colonel Haviland, to penetrate 
by the Isle Aux Noix ; and the third, consist- 
ing of about ten thousand men, commanded 
by the General himself, after passing up the 
Mohawk-River, and taking its course by the 
Lake Ontario, was to form a junction by fall- 
ing down the St. Lawrence. In this progress, 
moie than one occasion presented itself to 
manifest the intrepidity and soldiership of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Putnam. Two armed ves- 
sels obstructed the passage, and prevented the 



74 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

attack on Oswegatchie. Putnam, with one 
thousand men, in fifty batteaux, undertook to 
board them. This dauntless officer, ever 
sparing of the blood of others, as prodigal 
of his own, to accomplish it with the less loss, 
put himself (with a chosen crew, a beetle 
and wedges) in the van, with a design to 
wedge the rudders, so that the vessels should 
not be able to turn their broadsides, or per- 
form any other manoeuvre. All the men in 
his little fleet were ordered to strip to their 
waistcoats, and advance at the same time. 
He promised, if he lived, to join and show 
them the way up the sides. Animated by 
so daring an example, they moved swiftly, 
in profound stillness, as to certain victory or 
death. The people on board the ships, be- 
holding the good countenance with which 
they approached, ran one of the vessels on 
shore, and struck the colours of the other. 
Had it not been for the dastardly conduct 
of the ship's company in the latter, who 
compelled the Captain to haul down his en- 
sign, he would have given the assailants a 
bloody reception : for the vessels were well 
provided with spars, nettings, and every cus- 
tomary instrument of annoyance as well as 
defence. 

It now remained to attack the fortress, 
which stood on an island, and seemed to 
have been rendered inaccessible by an high 
abattis of black-ash, that every where pra- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 75 

jected over the water. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Putnam proposed a mode of attack, and offer- 
ed his services to carry it into elfect. The 
General approved the proposal. Our parti- 
zao, accordingly, caused a sufficient number 
of boats to be fitted for the enterprize. The 
sides of each boat were surrounded with fas- 
cines, musket proof, which covered the men 
completely. A wide plank, twenty feet in 
length, was then fitted to every boat in such 
manner, by having an angular piece sawed 
from one extremity, that, when fastened by 
ropes on both sides of the bow, it mio;ht be 
raised or lowered at pleasure. The design 
was, that the plank should be held erect while 
the oarsmen forced the bow with the utmost ex- 
ertion against the abattis; and that afterwaids 
being dropped on the pointed brush, it should 
serve as a kind of bridge to assist the men in 
passing over them. Lieutenant-Colonel Put- 
nam having n^ade his dispositions to attempt 
the escalade in many places at the same mo- 
ment, advanced with his boats in admirable 
order. The garrison perceiving thcbc extraor- 
dinary and unexpected machines, waited not 
the assault, but capitulated. Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Putnam was particularly honoured by 
General Amherst, for his ingenuity in this in- 
vention, and promptitude in its execution. 
The three armies arrived at Montreal within 
two days of each other ; and the conquest of 
Canada became complete without the loss of a 
single drop oi blood. 



76 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

At no great distance from Montreal stands 
the savage village called Cochnawaga. Here 
our partlzan found the Indian chief who had 
formerly made him prisoner. That Indian 
was highly delighted to see his old acquaint- 
ance, whom he entertained in his own well- 
built stone house with great friendship and 
hospitality; while his guest did not discover 
less satisfaction in an opportunity of shaking 
the brave savage by the hand, and proifering 
him protection in this reverse of his military 
fortunes. 

When the belligerent powers were consid- 
erably exhausted, a rupture took place be- 
tween Great Britain and Spain, in the month 
of January,! 762, and an expedition was form- 
ed that campaign, under Lord Albermarle, 
against the Havannah. A body of Provinci- 
als, composed of five hundred men from the 
Jerseys, eight hundred from New-York, and 
one thousand from Connecticut, joined his 
Lordship. General Lyman, who raised the reg- 
iment of one thousand men in Connecticut, be- 
ing the senior officer, commanded the whole : 
of course, the immediate command of his regi- 
ment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Put- 
nam. The fleet that carried these troops sail- 
ed from New-York, and arrived safely on the 
coast of Cuba. There a terrible storm arose, 
and the transport in which Lieutenant-Colonel 
Putnam had embarked with five hundred men, 
was wrecked on a rift of craggy rocks. The 
weather was so tempestuous, and the surf. 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 77 

which ran mountain-high, dashed with such 
violence against the ship^ that the most experi- 
enced seaman expected it \Vould soon part 
asunder. The rest ot" tlie fleet, so far from 
being able to aiford assistance, widi difficulty 
rode out the gale. In this deplorable situation, 
as the only expedient by which they could be 
saved, strict order was maintained, and all 
those people who best understood the use of 
tools, instantly employed in constructing rafts 
from spars, plank, and whatever other materi- 
als could be procured. There happened to be 
on board a large quantity of strong cords, (the 
same that are used in the whale fisnery) which, 
being fastened to the rafts, after the first had 
wath inconceivable hazard reached the shore, 
were of infinite service in preventing the oth- 
ers from driving out to sea, as also in dragging 
them athwart the billows to the beach; by 
which means every man was finally saved. 
With the same presence of mind to take ad- 
vantage of circumstances, and the same pre- 
caution to prevent confusion on similar occa- 
sions, how many valuable lives, prematurely 
lost, might have been preserved as blessings to 
their families, their friends, and their country ! 
As soon as all were landed, Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Putnam fortified his camp, that he might 
not be exposed to insult from the inhabitants 
of the neighbouring districts, or fioni those of 
Carthagena, who were but twenty-four miles 
distant. Here the party remained unmolested 
several days, until the storm had so much 



78 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

abated as to permit the convoy to take thena 
oft'. They soon joined the troops before the 
Havannah, who, having been several weeks in 
that unhealthy climate, already began to grow 
extremely sickly.* The opportune arrival of 
the Provincial reinforcement, in perfect health, 
contributed not a little to forward the works, 
and hasten the reduction of that important 
place. But the Provincials sutfered so misera- 
bly by sickness afterwards, that very few ever 
returned to their native land again. 

Although a general peace among the Euro- 
pean powers was ratified in 1763, yet the 
savages on our western frontiers still continu- 
ed their hostilities. After they had taken 
several posts, General Bradstreet was sent, in 
1764, with an army, against them. Colonel 
Putnam, then, for the first time, appointed to 
the command of a regiment, was on the expedi- 
tion, as was the Indian chief whom I have sev- 
eral times had occasion to mention as his cap- 
ture r, at the head of one hundred Cochnawaga 
warriors. Before General Bradstreet reach- 
ed Detroit, which the savages invested. Cap- 
tain D'Ell, the faithful friend and intrepid fel- 
low-soldier of Colonel Putnam, had been slain 



* Colonel Haviiand, an accomplished officer, several times men- 
tioned in these memoirs, who brought to America a itgaiient of 
one thousand Irish veterans, had but seventy men re'mi',iuing alive 
when he left the Havannah. Colonel Haviiand, during this siege, 
having once with his regiment engaged and routed five htmdred 
Spaniards, met Colonel Putnam on his return, and said— *' Put- 
iiau), give me a pinch of snufF." ** I never carry any," returned 
Pulnnni. *' I have aiways just such luck," cried Haviiand ; " the 
vascaliy Spaniards have, shot away my pocket, snuffbox and alU" 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 79 

in a desperate sally. He having been detach- 
ed with five hundied men, in 1763, by Gene- 
ral Amherst, to raise the siege, found means of 
throwing the succour into the fort. But the 
garrison, commanded by Major Gladwine, a 
brave and sensible officer, had been so much 
weakened, by the lurking and insidious mode 
of war practised by the savages, that not a 
man could be spared to co-operate in an at- 
tack upon them. The commandant would 
even have dissuaded Captain D'EU from the 
attempt, on account of the great disparity in 
numbers; but the latter, relying on the disci- 
pline and courage of his men, replied, ''God 
" forbid that I should ever disobey the orders of 
" my General," and immediately disposed them 
for action. It was obstinate and bloody ; but 
the vastly superior number of the savages 
enabled them to enclose Captain D'Ell's party 
on every side, and compelled him, finally, to 
fight his way, in retreat from one stone house 
to another. Havinc: halted to breathe a mo- 
ment, he saw one of his bravest sergeants ly- 
ing at a small distance, wounded through the 
thigh, and wallowing in his blood. Where- 
upon he desired some of the men to run and 
bring the sergeant to the house, but they de- 
clined it. Then declaring, "that he never 
'' would leave so brave a soldier in the field to 
" be tortured by the savages," he ran and en- 
deavoured to help him up — at the instant a 
volley of shot dropped them both dead to- 
gether. The party continued retreating from 



80 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

house to house until they regained the fort ; 
where it was found the conflict had been so 
sharp, and lasted so long, that only Mty rnen 
remained alive of the five hundred who had 
sallied. 

Upon the arrival of General Bradstreet, the 
savages saw that all further efforts, in aims, 
would be vain, and accordingly, after many 
fallacious proposals for a peace, and frequent 
tergiversations in the negociation, they con- 
cluded a treaty, which ended the war in A- 
merica. 

Colonel Putnam, at the expiration of ten 
years fiom his first receiving a commission, 
alter having seen as much service, endured as 
many hardships, encountered as many dangers, 
and acquired as many laurels as any officer of his 
rank, with great satisfaction laid aside his uni- 
form, and returned to his plough. The various 
and uncommon scenes of war in which he had 
acted a respectable part, his intercourse with 
tlie world, and intimacy with some of the first 
characters in the army, joined with occasional 
reading, had not only brought into view what- 
ever talents he possessed from nature, but, at 
the same time, had extended his knowledge, 
and polished his manners, to a considerable 
degree. Not having become inflated with 
pride, or forgetful of his old connexions, he 
had the good fortune to possess entirely the 
good will of his fellow citizens. No character 
stood fairer jn the pubhc eye for integrity, 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 8l 

bravery, and patriotism. He was employed 
in several offices in his own town, and not un- 
frequently elected to represent it in the Gene- 
ral xAssembly. The year after his return to 
private Hfe, the minds of men were strangely 
agitated, by an attempt of the British Parlia- 
ment to introduce the memorable Stamp Act in 
ikmerica. I'his germe of policy, whose growth 
was repressed by the moderate temperature 
in which it was kept by some administrations, 
did not fully disclose its fruit until nearly 
eleven years afterwards. All the world knows 
how it then ripened into a civil war. 

On the twenty-second day of March, 1765, 
the Stamp Act received the royal assent. It 
was to take place in America on the first day 
of November following. This innovation spread 
a sudden and universal alarm. The pohtlcal 
pulse in the Provinces, from Maine to Georgia^ 
throbbed in sympathy. The Assemblies, in 
most of these colonies, that they might oppose 
it legally and in concert, appointed Delegates' 
to confer together on the subject. This first 
Congress met, early in October, at New-York. 
They agreed upon a Declaration of Rights 
and Grievances of the Colonists; together 
with separate Addresses to the King, Lords, 
and Commons of Great- Britain. In the mean 
time, the people had determined, in order to 
prevent the stamped paper from being dis- 
tributed, that the Stamp-Masters should not 
enter on the execution of their office. That 



82 LIFE OF GENERAL TUTNAM. 

ajDpolntment, In Connecticut, had been confer- 
red upon Mr. Inc'ersol, a very dignified, sensi- 
ble, and learned native of the colony, who, 
upon being solicited to resign, did not, in the 
first instance, give a satisfactory answer. In 
consequence of \\ hich, a great number of the 
substantial yeomanry, on horseback, furnished 
with provisions for themselves, and provender 
for their horses, assembled in the eastern 
counties, and began their march for New- 
Haven, to receive the resignation of Mr. In- 
gersol. A junction with another body was to 
have been formed in Branford. But having 
learned at Hartford, that Mr. Infrersol would 
be in town the next day to claim protection 
from the Assembly, they took quarters there, 
and kept out patroles during the whole night, 
to prevent his arrival without theii knowledge. 
The succeeding morning they resumed their 
tr>nrch, and met Mr. Ingersol in Wethersfield. 
They told him their business, and he, after 
some little hesitation, mounted on a round 
table, read his resignation."^ That finished, 

* The curious may be pleased to know that the resignalidn was 
expressed in these explicit terms : 

Wethersfield., September ^'h 1'65. 

*•! do hereby promise, that I never will receive any stamped 
papers whicii mav arrive from Enrt'pe, in consetpsence of an act 
lateij' passed in the Parliament of Great-Britain ; nor officiate as 
Slamp-Master or Distributor of Stamps, within tiie col(.n) ol Con- 
necticut, either directly or indirectly. And 1 do hereliy notify to 
all the inhabitants of his Majest>'s colony of Cf)nnt-cticut (i otwith- 
standing: the said office ot trust has been c<mn itted to mt) not to 
apply to me, ever aft <m-, for any stamped paper ; hereby (U dating 
that I do resign the scdd offce, and extinie these l/KEStNis of 
my own FREE WILL AisD ACCOUD, without any equivocation O 
mental reservation. 

** Iq witness v hereof I have hereunto set my hand, 

*' J. INGERSOL,'? 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM 83 

the miiltitiicle desired him to cry out "liberty 
and property" tiiree times ; which h^ did, 
aJiJ WHS answered by three loud huzzas. He 
then lined witli some of the prinripal men at 
a tavei-n, by whom he was treated with great 
p >l!toiiess, and afterwards was escorted by 
aboit five hundred horse to Hartford, wiiere 
he a^rain read his resignation, amidst the un- 
bounded acclamations of the people. 1 have 
chosen to style this collection the yeomnnnj^ 
the multitude, or the people, because I could 
not make use of the English word mob, wriicb 
generally signifies a disorderly concurrence of 
the rabble, without conveying an erroneous 
idea. It is scarcely necessary^to add, that the 
people, their objects being effected, without 
ollcring disturbance, dispersed to their homes.* 
Colonel j^utnam, who instigated the people 
to these measures, was prevented from at- 
tending by accident. But he was deputed 
soon after, with two other gentlemen, to wait 
on Governor Fitch on the same subject. The 
questions of the Governor,and answers of Put- 
nam, will serve to indicate the spirit of the 
times. After some conversation, the Governor 
asked, " What he should do if the stamped 
paper should be sent to him by the King's 

• To ^ive a trait of the urbanity tliat urevailed, it raav not be 
am.ss to mention a jest that passed in the cavalcade to Hartford, 
and Mas received witli the most perfect ^ood humour. Vfr. In- 
^ersol, who by chance rode a white hor-e/being asked " What he 
thought, lo find himself attended bv such a retinue '"—replied, 

t.iat he had now a clearer idea than ever he had bef(u-e conctiv- 
ert ot that passage m the Revelations, which deseiibes Death on a 
pule horse, anil hell folloivin^ him." 



84 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

authority ?" Putnam replied, "lock it up until 
we shall visit jou again." " And what will 
you do then?" "We shall expect you to give 
us the key of the room in which it is deposit- 
ed ; and, if you think fit, in order to screen 
yourself from blame, you may forewarn us, 
upon our peril, not to enter the loom." "And 
what will you do afterwards?" "Send it safely 
back again." "But if 1 should refuse admission?" 
" In such a case, your house will be kvelled 
with the dust in five minutes." It was suppos- 
ed, that a report of this conversation was one 
reason why the stamped paper was never sent 
from New-York to Connecticut. 

Such unanimity in the Provincial Assemblies, 
and decision in the yeomanry, carried beyond 
the Atlantic a conviction of the inexpediency 
of attempting to enforce the new Revenue 
System. The Stamp Act being repealed, and 
the measures in a manner quieted. Colonel 
Putnam continued to labour w^ith his own 
hands, at farming, without interruption, except, 
for a little time, by the loss of the first joint of 
his right thumb from one accident, and the com- 
pound fracture of his right thigh from another: 
that thigh, being rendered nearly an inch 
shorter than the left, occasioned him ever to 
limp in his walk. 

The Provincial officers and soldiers from 
Connecticut, who survived the conquest of the 
Havannah, appointed General Lyman to re- 
ceive the remainder of their prize money, in 
England. A company, composed partly of 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 85 

military, and partly of other gentlemen, whose 
object was to obtain from the crown ^ grant 
of land on the Mississippi, also committed to 
him the negociation of their affairs. When 
several years had elapsed in applications, a 
grant of land was obtained. In 1770, General 
Lyman, with Colonel Putnam, and two or 
three others, went to explore the situation. 
After a tedious voyage, and a laborious pas- 
sage up the Mississippi, they accomplished 
their business. 

General Lyman came back to Connecticut 
with the explorers, but soon returned to the 
Natchez : there formed an establishment and 
laid his bones. Colonel Putnam placed some 
labourers with provisions and farming utensils 
upon his location ; but tlie increasing troubles 
shortly after ruined the prospect of deriving 
any advantage from that quarter. 

In speaking of the troubles that ensued, I 
not only omit to say any thing on the obnox- 
ious claim asserted in the British declaratory 
act, the continuation of the duty on tea, the 
attempt to obtrude that article upon the A- 
merlcans, the abortion of this project, the Bos- 
ton Port Bill, the alteration of the charter of 
Massachusetts, and other topics of universal 
notoriety ; but even wave all discussion of ir- 
ritations on the one part, and supplications on; 
the other, which preceded the war betweea 
Great-Britain and her colonies on this conti-^ 
neat. It will ever be acknowledged by those 



86 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

who were best acquainted with facts, and it 
should be made known to posterity, that the 
king of England had not, in his extensive do- 
minions, subjects more loyal, more dutiful, or 
more zealous for his glory than the Americans j 
and that nothing short of a melancholy persua- 
sion, that the " measures which for aiany years 
had been systematically pursued by his minis- 
ters, were calculated to subvert their constitu- 
tions," could have dissolved their powerful 
attachment to that kingdom which they fondly 
called their parent country. Here, without 
digression to develope the cause, or describe 
the progress, it may suffice to observe, the 
dispute now verged precipitately to an awful 
crisis. Most considerate men foresaw it would 
terminate in blood. But rather than suffer 
the chains, which they believed in prepara- 
tion, to be rivetted, they nobly determined to 
sacrifice their lives. In vain did they depre- 
cate the infatuation of those transatlantic 
counsels which drove them to deeds of despe- 
ration. Convinced of the rectitude of their 
cause, and doubtful of the issue, they felt the 
most painful solicitude for the fate of their 
country, on contemplating the superior 
strength of the nation with which it was to 
contend. America, thinly inhabited, under 
thirteen distinct colonial governments, could 
have little hope of success, but from the pro- 
tection of providence, and the unconquerable 
spirit of freedom which pervaded the mass of 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTx\AM. 87 

the people. It is true, since the peace she 
had surprisingly increased in wealth and pop- 
ulation ; but the resources of Britain almost 
exceeded credibility or conception. It is not 
wonderful, then, that some good citizens, of 
weaker nerves, recoiled at the prospect ; while 
others, who had been officers in the late war, 
or who had witnessed, by travelling, the force 
of Britain, stood aloof. All eyes were now 
turned to find the men who, possessed of mil- 
itary experience, would dare, in the approach- 
ing hour of severest trial, to lead their undis- 
ciplined fellow-citizens to battle. For none 
were so stupid as not to comprehend, that 
want of success would involve the leaders in 
the punishment of rebellion. Putnam was 
among the first and most conspicuous who 
stepped forth. Although the Americans had 
been, by many who wished their subjugation, 
indiscreetly as indiscriminately stigmatized with 
tiie imputation of cowardice — he felt — he knew 
for himself, he was no coward ; and from 
Avhat he had seen and known, he believed that 
his countrymen, driven to the extremity of de- 
fending their rights by arms, would find no 
difficulty in wiping away the ungenerous as- 
persion. As he happened to be often at Bos- 
ton, he held many conversations, on these sub- 
jects, with General Gage, the British Com- 
mander in Chief, Lord Percy, Colonel Sheriff, 
Colonel Small, and many officers with whom 
he had formerly served, who were now at the 



88 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Head-Quarters. Being often questioned, " in 
case the dispute should proceed to hostilities, 
what part he would realljtake?" he always 
answered, "with his country; and that, let what- 
ever might happen, he was prepared to abide 
the consequence." Being interrogated, "wheth- 
er Ae, who had been a witness to the prowess 
and victories of the British fleets and armies, 
did not think them equal to the conquest of 
a country which was not the owner of a single 
ship, regiment, or magazine ?" he rejoined, 
that "he could only say, justice would be on 
our side, and the event with providence : but 
that he had calculated, if it required six years 
for the combined forces of England and her 
colonies to conquer such a feeble country as 
Canada, it would, at least, take a very long 
time for England alone to overcome her own 
widely extended colonies, which were much 
stronger than Canada : That when men fought 
for every thing dear, in what they believed to 
be the most sacred of all causes, and in their 
own native land, they would have great ad- 
vantages over their enemies who were not in 
the same situation; and that, having taken 
into view all circumstances, for his own part, 
he fully believed that America would not be 
so easily conquered by England as those gen- 
tlemen seemed to expect." Being once, in 
particular, asked, " whether he did not seri- 
ously believe that a well appointed British 
army of hye thousand veterans could march 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 



89 



through the whole continent of America ?" he 
replied briskly, " no doubt, if they behaved 
civilly, and paid well for every thing they 
wanted ; — but" — after a moment's pause add- 
ed — " if they should attempt it in a hostile 
manner (though the American men were out 
of the question) the women, with their ladles 
and broomsticks, would knock them all on the 
head before they had got half way through." 
This was the tenor, our hero hath often told 
me, of these amicable interviews; and thus, as 
it commonly happens in disputes about future 
events which depend on opinion, they parted 
without conviction, no more to meet in a friendly 
manner, until after the appeal should have 
been made to Heaven, and the issue confirmed 
by the sword. In the mean time, to provide 
against the worst contingency, the militia in 
the several colonies was sedulously trained ; 
and those select companies, the flower of our 
youth, which were denominated minutemen, 
agreeably to the indication of their name, held 
themselves in readiness to march at a mo- 
ment's warning. 

At length the fatal day arrived, when hos- 
tilities commenced. General Gage, in the 
evening of the 18th of April, 1775, detached 
from Boston, the grenadiers and light infantry 
of the army, commanded by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Smith, to destroy some military and 
other stores deposited by tlie province at Con- 
cord. About sunrise the next morning, the 



90 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

detachment, on marching into Lexington, fired 
upon a company of miiitia who had just re- 
asserahled ; for having been alarmed iale at 
night, with reports that the regulars we>/e ad- 
vancing to demolish the stoies, they collected 
on their parade, and were dismissed with or- 
ders to reassembre at beat of drum, it is es- 
tablished bj the affidavits ot more than thirty 
persons who were present, that the first fire, 
which killed eight of the militia, then begin- 
ning to disperbc, was given by the British, 
without provocation. The spark of war, thus 
kindled, ran with unexampled rapidity, and 
raged with unwonted violence. To repel the 
aggression, the people of the bordering towns 
spontaneously rushed to arms, and poured their 
scattering shot from every convenient station 
upon the regulars, who, after marching to 
Concord, and destroying the magazine, would 
have found their retreat intercepted, had they 
not been reinforced by Lord Percy, with the 
battalion companies of three regiments, and a 
body of marines. Notwithstanding the junc- 
tion, they were hard pushed, and pursued 
until they could find pjotection from their 
shif)s. 0/ the British, two hundrt'd and eighty- 
three were killed, wounded, and taken. The 
Americans had thirty-nine killed, nineteen 
wounded, and two made prisoners. 

Nothing could exceed the celerity with 
which the intelligence flew every where, that 
blood had been shed by the British troops. 
The country, in motion, exhibited but one 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 91 

scene of hurry, preparation and revenge. Put- 
nam, who was plowing when he heard the 
news, lelt his plough in the middle of the field, 
unyoked his team, and without waiting to 
change his clothes, set olf for the theatre of 
action. But findino: the British retreated to 
Boston, and invested by a sufficient force to 
watch their movements, he came back to 
Connecticut,* levied a regiment, under au- 
thority of the legislature, and speedily return- 
ed to Carabiidge.t He was now promoted 
to be a Major-General on the Provincial staff, 

* General Putnam was absent only one week from the army at 
Cambridge ; and then, for the purpose of consuitation with the 
Legislature of Connecticut, at ihat time in session; and at the par- 
ticular request of that bodv- Having assisted by his advice in the 
organization of a miliiary force for the campaign of 1775, he re- 
turned immediately t« the Army before Boston, leaving ordeis for 
the tro >ps to follow with as little delay as possible, after the mea 
could be enlisted (^ Editor. J 

f An article, void ot foundation, mentioning an interview be- 
tween General Gage and General Putnam, appeared in the Eiigiisli 
Gazettes m these words: 'General Gage, viewing the Amei-'>«aa 
army with his telescope, saw General Putnam in it, which surpris- 
ed him ; and he contrived to get a message de'ivered to him, that 
he wanted to spenk to him. Putnam, wiihuut anv hesitation, wait- 
ed upon him. Genei-al Gage showed him his fortifications, and 
advised him to lay down his arms. Genei'al Putnam replied, he 
could force his fortifications in hali an hour, and advised General 
Gage to go on board the ships with his troops* 

'rhe apprehension of an attack is adduced with ranch more veri- 
similitude in M'Fingal. as the reason « h v General (age would not 
suffer the inhabiiants to go from the town of Boston, after he had 
promised to grant permission : 

*So (iage of late agreed, you know. 
To let the Floston people go : 

Yet when he saw, 'gainst troops that brav'd him. 
They were the only guards tliat savM him. 
Kept off that Satan of a Putnam 
From breaking in to maul and mutl'n him, 
He'd too much wit such leagues t' observe. 
And shut Ihera in again to starve.' 

M'Fingal. Canto I. 



92 LIFE OV GENERAL PUTNAM. 

by his colony ; and, in a little time, confirmed 
by Congress, in the same rank on the Conti- 
nental eslabHshment. General Ward, of Mas- 
sachusetts, by common consent, commanded 
the whole ; and the celebrated Dr. Warren 
was made a Major-General. 

Not long after this period, the British Com- 
mander in Chief found the means to convey a 
proposal, privately, to General Putnam, that 
if he would relinquish the rebel party, he 
might rely upon being made a Major-General 
on the British establishment, and receiving a 
great pecuniary compensation for his services. 
General Putnam spurned at the offer; which, 
however, he thought prudent at that time to 
conceal from public notice. 

It could scarcely have been expected, but 
by those credulous patriots who were prone 
to believe whatever they ardently desired, that 
officers assembled from colonies distinct in 
their manners and prejudices, selected from 
laborious occupations, to command a hetero- 
geneous crowd of their equals, compelled to 
be soldiers only by the spur of occasion, should 
long be able to preserve harmony among 
themselves, and subordination among their 
followers. As the fact would be a phenome- 
non, the idea was treated with mirth and 
mockery by the friends to the British govern- 
ment. Yet this unshaken embryo C'fa military 
corps, composed of militia, minutemen, volun- 
teers, and levies, with a burlesque appearance 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 93 

of multiformity in arms, accoutrements, cloath- 
ing and conduct, at last grew into a regular 
army — an army which, having vindicated the 
rights of human nature, and established the 
independence of a new empire, merited and 
obtained the glorious distinction of the patriot 
army — the patriot army, whose praises for 
their fortitude in adversity, bravery in battle, 
moderation in conquest, perseverance in sup- 
porting the cruel extremities of hunger and 
nakedness without a murmur or sigh, as well 
as for their magnanimity in retiring to civil 
life, at the moment of victory, with arms in 
their hands, and without any just compensa- 
tion for their services, wi!l only cease to be 
celebrated when time shall exist no more. 

Enthusiasm for the cause of liberty, substi- 
tuted in the place of discipline, not only kept 
these troops together, but enabled them at 
once to perform the duties of a disciplined 
army. Though the commanding officers from 
the four colonies of New-Eno-land were in a 
manner independent, they acted harmoniously 
in concert. The first attention had been pru- 
dently directed towards forming some little 
redoubts and intrenchments ; for it was well 
known that lines, however slight or untena- 
ble, were calculated to insjire raw soldiers 
with a confidence in themselves. The next 
care was to bring the live stock from the isl- 
ands in Boston bay, in order to prevent the 
enemy (already surrounded by land,) from 

9 



94 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

making use of them for fresh provisions. In 
the latter end of May, between two and three 
hundred men were sent to drive off the stock 
from Hog and Noddle islands, which are situ- 
ated on the north-east side of Boston harbour. 
Advantage having been taken of the ebb-tide, 
when the water is fordabie between the main 
and Hog island, as it is between that and 
Noddle-island, the design was effecteci. But 
a skirmish ensued, in which «ome of the ma- 
rines, who had been stationed to guard them, 
were killed : and as the firing continued be- 
tween the British w^ater-ciaft and our party, 
a reinforcement of three hundred men, with 
two pieces of artillery, was ordered to join the 
latter. General Putnam took the command, 
and having himself gone down on the beach, 
within conversing distance, and ineffectual- 
ly ordered the people on board an arm- 
ed schooner to strike, he plied her with 
shot so furiously that the , crew made their 
escape, and the vessel was buint. An 
armed sloop was likewise so much disabled as 
to be towed off by the boats of the fleet. 
Thus ended this affair, in which several hun- 
dred sheep, and some cattle were removed 
from under the muzzles of the enemy's cannon, 
and our men, accustomed to stand fire, by 
being for many hours exposed to it, without 
meeting with any loss. 

The Piovlncial Generals having received 
advice that the British Commander in Chief 
designed to take possession of the heights on 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 95 

the peninsula of Charlestovvn, detached a 
thousand men In the niglit of the 16th of June, 
under the orders of General Warren, to in- 
trench themselves upon one of these emiicn- 
ces, named Bunker-Hill. Though retarded 
bj accidents, from beginning the work until 
nearly midnight, jet, bj dawn of daj, they 
had constructed a redoubt about eight rods 
square, and commenced a breast-work from 
the left to the low grounds ; which an insuf- 
ferable fire iVom the shipping, floating batte- 
ries, and cannon on Copp's Hill, in Boston, 
prevented them Irom completing. At mid-day 
four battalions of foot, ten con:ipanies of grena- 
diers, ten companies of light-infantry, with a 
proportion of artillery, commanded by Major- 
General Howe, landed under a heavy cannon- 
ade from the ships, and advanced in three 
lines to the attack. The light-infantry being 
formed on the right, was directed to tur-n the 
left flank of the Americans ; and the grena- 
dier's, supported by two battalions, to storm 
the redoubt in front. Meanwhile, on applica- 
tion, these troops wer'e augmented by the 
47th regiment, the 1st battalion of marines, 
together with some companies of light-infan- 
try and grenadiers, which formed an aggre-' 
gate force of between two and three thousand 
men.* But so difficult was it to reinforce th© 



* The preceding paragTaph was copied froio aErillsh Register, 
beip^ the English account of the troops sent to the attack of Bun- 
ker-Hill, and the <li.s[)o.sitiou oi those troops. This account, and 
otiici's, published ut the time, and ascii'uin^ the eommiind ofthG 



96 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Americans, by sending detachments across the 
Neck, which was raked by the cannon of the 
shipping, that not more than fifteen hundred 
men were broup-ht into action. Few instan- 
ces can ba produced in the annals of mankind, 
where soldiers, who never had before faced ^n 
enemy, or heard the whistling of a ball, be- 
haved with such deliberate and persevering 
valour. It was not until afl.er the grenadiers 
had been twice repulsed to their boats, Gene- 
ral Warren slain, his troops exhausted of their 
ammunition, their lines in a manner enfiladed 
bj artillery, and the redoubt half filled with 
British regulars, that the word was given to 
retire. In that forlorn condition, the specta- 
cle was astonishing as new, to behold these 
undisciplined risen, most of them without bayo- 
nets, disputing with the but-end of their mus- 
kets against the British bayonet, and receding 
in sullen despair. Still the light-infantry on 
their left would certainly have gained their 
rear, and exterminated this gallant corps, had 
not a body of four hundred Connecticut men, 
with the Captains Knowlton and Chester, af- 
ter forming a temporary breast-work, by pull- 
ing up one post-and-rail fence and putting- 
it upon another, performed prodigies of brave- 
ry. They held the enemy at bay until the 
main body had relinquished the heights, and 
then retreated across the Neck ^vith more 
regularity, and less loss, than could have been 

Auiericaiii force to /Fflrren, probab'y cccasloned the historical ev- 
rov on Ciiat subject, f Editor. J 



, LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 97 

expected. The British, who effected nothing 
but the destruction of Charlestown by a 
wanton conflagration, had more than one half 
of their whole number killed and wounded : 
the Americans only three hundred and fifty- 
five killed, wounded, and missing. In this 
battle, the presence and example of General 
Putnam, who arrived with the reinlorcement, 
were not less conspicuous than useful. He 
did every thing that an intrepid and experien- 
ced officer could accomplish. The enemy 
pursued to Winter-Hill — Putnam made a 
stand, and drove them back under cover of 
their ships.^ 

The premature death of Warren, one of 
the most illustrious patriots that ever bled in 
the cause of freedom; the veteran appearance 
of Putnam, collected, yet ardent in action ; to- 
gether with the astonishing scenery and inter- 
esting groupe around Bunker-Hill, rendered 
this a magnificent subject for the historic pen- 
cil. Accordingly Trumbull, formerly an Aid- 
de-Camp to General Washington, afterwards 
Deputy-Adjutant-General of the northern ar- 
my, now an artist of great celebrity in Europe, 
hath finished this picture with that boldness 

* Such Avas Uie statement made iii soiiie American ne\vs-])apers 
of that day, but without any foundation in fact There was no 
pursuit of the British beyond Bunker-Iliil ; but <ieneral Piituara, 
wit!) most of the retreating troops took post on Prospect-Uili, aad 
being joined by others whicii had not been in action began an en- 
trenchment, and tiie next morning, presented to the enemy anoth- 
er line of defence, equally formiihiole with that which bad been 
purchased the preceding day, at tire c.xpence of so much blood 

9# 



98 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

of conception, and those touches of art which 
demonstrate the master. Heightened in hor- 
ror by the flames of a burning town, and the 
smoke of conflicting armies, the principal 
scene, taken the moment when Warren fell, 
represents that hero in the agonies of death, 
a grenadier on the point of bayoneting him, 
and Colonel Small, to whom he was familiarly 
known, arresting the soldier's arms ; at the 
head of the British line, Major Pitcairne is seen 
falling dead into the arms of his son ; and not 
far distant General Putnam is placed at the 
rear of our retreating troops, in the light blue 
and scarlet uniform he wore that day, with 
his head uncovered, and his sword waving to- 
wards the enemy, as it were to stop their im- 
petuous pursuit. In nearly the same attitude 
he is exhibited by Barlow in that excellent 
poem, the Vision of Columbus. 

" There strides bold Putnam, and from all the plains 
Calls the third host, the tardy rear sustains. 
And, 'mid the whizzing deaths that fill the air. 
Waves back his sword, and dares the foU'wing war."^ 



• The writer of this Essay had occasion of remarking to the 
]^oet and the painter, Avhiie they were three thousand miles distant 
from each other, at wliich distance they had tbrraod and executed 
the plans of their respective productious, the similarity observable 
in their descriptions of General Fiitnam. These Chiefs cV auvres 
are mentioned not with a vain presumption of adding eciat of du- 
ration to works which have received the seal of iramoitality, but 
because they preserve, in the sister arts, the same illustrious action 
of oui hero 1 persuade myself I need not apologize for annexing 
the beautiful lines from the poena in question, on the death ef 
General Warren. 

" There, hapless Warren, thy cold earth was seen : 
There spring thy laurels in immortal green ; 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 99 

After this action, the British stronglj forti- 
fied themselves on the peninsulas of Boston 
and Charlestown; while the Provincials re- 
mained posted in the circumjacent country in 
such a manner as to form a blockade. In the 
beginning of July, General Washington, who 
had been constituted by Congress, Command- 
er in Chief of the American forces, arrived at 
Cambridge, to take the command. Having 
formed the army into three grand divisions, 
consisting of about twelve regiments each, he 
appointed Major-General Ward to command 
the right wing, Major-General Lee the left 
wino', and Maior-General Putnam the reserve. 
General Putnam's alertness in accelerating the 
construction of the necessary defences was 
particularly noticed and highly approved by 
the Commander in Chief* 

About the 20th of July, the declaration of 



Dearest of Chiefs that ever press'd the plain. 
In freedom's cause, Avitli early honours, slain. 
Still dear in death, as when in fight you mov'd. 
By hosts applauded and by heav'n ajtprov'd ; 
The faithful muse shall tell the world thy fame, 
And unborn realms resound th' immortal name." 

* Washington and Puttiam were unknown to each other tiil 
t]»ey met at Cambridge The open, undisguised frankness of the 
latter, together with hi'^ great activity and personal industry, in 
every thin:r pertaining to the army, soon attracted the attention of 
the former; an early intimacy was formed, and a firm friendship 
established, which coniinutd undisturbed during t!ie whole period 
thev were associated in service. It was not in Putnam's nature to 
be idle : inured to habits of industry himself, no man was better 
•alculated to make others so , and Washington observing the great 
progress that had been made in a short time, and with but i'iiw 
men, in raising a work of d; fence, said to him — " you se* :n to 
have the faculty General Putnam, of infusing your own iudustrioils 
spirit iuto all the workmen you employ. (~£ditor.J 



100 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Congress, setting forth the reasons of their 
taking up arms, was proclaimed at the head 
of the several divisions. It concluded with 
these patriotic and noble sentiments : " In our 
own native land, in defence of the freedom that 
is our birth-right, and which we ever enjujed 
until the late violation of it; for the protection 
of our property, acquired solely by the honest 
industry of our forefathers and ourselves ; 
against violence actually offered, we have tak- 
en up arms. We shall lay them down when 
hostilities shall cease on the part of the ag- 
gressors, and all danger of their being renew- 
ed shall be removed, and not before. 

" With an humble confidence in the mercies 
of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler 
of the universe, we most devoutly implore his 
divine goodness to conduct us happily through 
this great conflict, to dispose our adversaries 
to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and, 
thereby, to relieve the empire from the calami- 
ties of civil war." 

As soon as these memorable words were 
pronounced to General Putnam's division, 
which he had ordered to be paraded on Pros- 
pect-Hill, they shouted in three huzzas aloud^ 
Amen ! whereat (a cannon from the fort being 
fired as a signal) the new Standard lately sent 
from Connecticut, was suddenly seen to rise 
and unrol itself to the wind. On one side was 
inscribed, in large letters of gold, '•'•An appeal 
TO HEAVEN," and on the other were delineated 
the armorial bearings of Connecticut, which. 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 101 

without supporters or crest, consist, unosten- 
tatiously,' of /Aree Vines; witU tliis rnotio, ^ Qui 
transtulit. sustlnet f alluding to the pious con- 
fidence our forefathers placed in the protec- 
tion of Heaven, on those three allegorical 

scions KNOWLEDGE LIBERTY RELIGION 

which tiiey had been instiunientai in lians- 
planting to America. 

The strength of position on the enemy's 
part, and want of ammunition on our's, pre- 
vented operations of magnitude from being 
attempted. Such diligence was used in forti- 
fying our camps, and such precaution adopted 
to prevent surprise, as to ensure tranquillity 
to the troops during the winter. In the spring, 
a position was taken so menacing to the ene- 
my, as to cause them, on the 17lh of March, 
1776, to abandon Boston, not without consid- 
erable precipitation and dereliction of roya! 
stores.t 

• Literally, "He ivho transplanted them xvill support them.'^ 
f In the expectation that the flowm' Jtf the British troops would 
be emplDved against the Heigiita of OorciiestLT, (which had been 
taken possession of by the Krnericans n>i the nigl.t of th.e 4tli of 
March, 1770,) General Washington had concerted apian for avail- 
ing himself of tiiat occasion, to attack the town of KJoston itself. 
Four thousand chosen men were held in readisiess to embark at 
the mouth oi' Cambridge river, on a signal to be given if the garri- 
son should ajjpear to be so weakened by the detachment made 
from it as to justify an assault. Tuese tjoops were to embark ia 
two divisions, the first to be led by Brigadier-Gent-ral Sullivan, the 
second by Btigadier-General Green^ ai;d the whole to be under the 
comraand of Major-lTleneral Putnam. The boats w . re to be preced- 
ed by three floating batteries, which were to keep up a heavy fire on 
that part of the town where the troops were to land It was pro. 
posed that the first division should hmd at the powder-house, and 
gain possession of Beacon Hill ; the second at Karlon's Point, or a 
little south of it, and after securing that post, to join the ether divi- 
sion, force the enemy's works, atid open the gates in order to give 
admission to the troops from Koxbury, C Editor. J 



10^ LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

' As a part of the hostile fleet lingered for 
some time in Naotasket-Roacl, about nine 
miles below Boston, General Washington con- 
tinued himself in Boston, not only to see the 
coast entirely clear, bat also to make many 
indispensable arrangements. His Excellency, 
proposing to leave Major-General Ward, with 
a few regiments, to linisli the fortiiications in- 
tended as a security against an attack by 
water, in tlie mean lime despatched the great- 
er part of the army to New-York, w^here it 
was most probable the enemy would make a 
descent. Upon the sailing of a fleet with 
troops in the month of January, Major-General 
Lee had been sent to the defence of that city; 
who, after having caused some works to be 
laid out, proceeded to -follow that fleet to 
South-Carolina. The Commander in Chief 
was now exceedingly solicitous that these 
works should be completed as soon as pos- 
sible, and accordingly gave the following 

" Orders and Instructions for Major-General 
Putnam, 

"As there arc the best reasons to believe 
that the enemy's fleet and army, which left 
Nantasket-Road last Wednesday evening, are 
bound to New-York, to endeavour to possess 
that important post, and, if possible, to secure 
the communication by Hudson's river to Can- 
ada, it must be our care to prevent them from 
accomplishing their designs. To that end I 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 103 

have detached Brigadier-General Heath, with 
the whole hody of riiienien, and five battalions 
of the Continental army, by tiie way of Nor- 
wich, in Connecticut, to New-York. These, 
by an express arrived yesterday from General 
Heath, I iiave reason to beheve, are in New- 
York. Six more battalions, under General 
Sullivan, march this niorning by the same 
route, and will, I hope, arrive there in eight 
or ten days at fartliest. The rest of the 
army will iimiiediately follow in divisions, leav- 
ing only a convenient space between each di- 
vision, to prevent confusion, and want of ac- 
commodation upon their march. You will, no 
doubt, make the best despatch in getting to 
New-York. Upon your arrival there, you 
will assume the command, and immediately 
proceed in continuing to execute the plan 
proposed by Major-General Lee, for fortifying 
that city, and securing the passes of the East 
and North rivers. If, upon consultation with 
the Brigadiers General and Engineers, any al- 
teration in that plan is thought necessary, you 
are at liberty to make it: cautiously avoiding 
to break in too much upon his main design, 
unless where it may be apparently necessary 
so to do, and that by the general voice and 
opinion of the gentle men above-mentioned. 

'^You will nieet the Quarter-Master-Gene- 
ral, Colonel Miffiin, and Commissary-General,''^ 

* Colonel Joseph Trumbullj eldest son to the Governor of that 
name. 



104 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

at New- York. As these are both men of ex- 
cellent talents in their different departments, 
you will do well to give them all the authority 
and assistance they require : And should a 
council of war be necessary, it is my direction 
they assist at it. 

" Your long service and experience will, better 
than my particular directions at this distance, 
point out to you the works most proper to 
be first rais<3d ; and your perseverance, activ- 
ity, and zeal will lead you, without my recom- 
mending it, to exert every nerve to disappoint 
the enemy's designs. 

"Devoutly praying that the power which 
has hitherto sustained the American arms, may 
continue to bless them with the divine pro- 
tection, I bid you — farewell. 

"Given at Head Quarters, in Cambridge, 
this twenty-ninth of March, 1776. 

" G. Washington." 

Invested with these commands. General 
Putnam travelled by long and expeditious 
stages to New-York. His first precaution, 
upon his arrival, was to prevent disturbance, 
or surprise in the night season. With these 
objects in view, after posting the necessary 
guards, he issued his orders."^ He instituted, 

♦ GENER VL ORDERS. 

"Head-Qicarfers, J\'e-iV-Vorh, ^pril 5. 1776. 
*' The soldiers are strict!}' enjosned to retii e to their barracks 
and quarters at tattoo-beating, and to remain there until the re- 
veille is beat. • 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 105 

likewise, other wholesome regulations to me- 
liorate the pohce of the troops, and to pre- 
serve the good agreement that subsisted be- 
tween them and the citizens. 

Notwithstanding the war had now raged, 
in other parts, with unaccustomed severit}' for 
nearly a year, jet the British ships at JN'ew- 
York, one of which had once fired upon the 
town to intimidate the inhabitants, found the 
means of being supplied with fresh water and 
provisions. General Putnam resolved to adopt 
eifectual measures for putting a period to this 
intercourse, and accordingly expressed his 
prohibition* in the most pointed teims. 

Nearly at the same moment, a detachment 
of a thousand Continentals was sent to oc- 
cupy Governor's Island, a regiment to fortify 
Red Hook, and some companies of riflemen 

*' Necessity obligees the General to desire the inhabitants ot" the 
oitv to observe the same rule, as no person will be periuitleti to 
pass any sentry after this night with^-ut the- conntersgn. 

*' Tlje inhabitants, whose business rcjuire it, may know the 
countersign, by applying to any of the Bi'igade- Majors." 

* PLlOMIBmON. 

Head' Quarters, JVexo-York. Jpr?' S 1776. 
«*The General informs the i'. habitants, tiiat it is become hIj-^o- 
lutely neceesary that all communication between the iniiiisurial 
fletjt and the shore should be immediately slopped for that jjur- 
post' he has given positive nr.lers, the ships should no longer be 
furnished with p»'<jvisions. Any inhabitants, or others, who shall 
be taken that liave been on board, after the publishing this order, 
or near any of the ships, or going on board, will be consideied as 
enemies, and treated accordingly 

" All boats !Uo to sail from Heekman slip. Captain James Alnei* 
13 api'oinft^d inspector, and will give i)ermits to oyster. ':en It is 
ordered and expected that none attempt going without a pass. 

•« ISRAEL PUI'NA.Vl, 
*' Major-General in the Continental Vrmy, and Conunander 
iii Chief of the Forces in New-York." 

10 



106 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

to the Jersey shore. Of two boats, belonging 
to two armed vessels, which attempted to take 
on board fresh water from the watering place 
on Staten-Isiand, one was driven off by the 
riflemen, with two or three seamen killed in 
it, and the other captured with thirteen. A 
few days afterwards, Captain Vandeput, of 
the Asia man of war, the senior officer of the 
ships on this station, finding the intercourse 
with the shore interdicted, their hmits con- 
tracted, and that no good purposes could be 
ansvvt red by remaining tliere, sailed, with all 
the armed vessels, out of the harbour. These 
arrangements and transactions, joined to an 
unremitting attention lo the completion of the 
defences, oave full scope to the activity of 
General Pirtnam, until the arrival of General 
Washington, which happened about the middle 
of April. 

The Commander in Chief, in his first public 
orders, " complimented the officers who had suc^ 
cessivehj commanded at J^^eiv-York^ and return- 
ed his thanks to them as well as to the officers 
and soldiers under their command, for the 
nianj works of defence ivhich had been so ex- 
pcditiouslj erected: at the same time lie ex- 
pressed an expectation that the same spirit of 
zeal for the service would continue to animate 
their future conduct." Putnam, who was then 
the onlj Major-General with the main army, 
had still a chief agency in ibrwarding the for- 
tifications, and, with the assistance of the 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 107 

Brin^arliers Spencer and Lord Stirling, in as- 
3igi)in^ to the different corps their alarm posts. 
Congress having Intimated a desire uf con- 
sulting with the Commander in Ctii- f, on the 
cricical posture of affairs, his Excellency re- 
paired to Philadelphia accordinglj, and was 
absent fiom the tweiiij-lirst of May until the 
sixth of June. General Putnam, who com- 
manded in tfiat interval, had it in charge to 
open all letters directed to General Washing- 
ton, on public service^ and, if important, alter 
regulating his conduct by their contents, to 
forward them by express ; to expedite the 
works then erecting; to begin others which 
were specified; to establish signals for com- 
municating an alarm ; to guard against the 
possibility of surprise ; to secure well the 
powder magazine; to augment, by every means 
in his power, the quantity of cartridges ; and 
to send Brigadier-General Lord Stirling to 
put tlie posts In the Highlands into a proper 
condition of defence. He had also a private 
and confidential instruction^ to afibrd whatever 
aid might be required by the Provincial Con- 
gress of New-York, for apprehending certain 
of their disaffected citizens : and as it would 
be most convenient to take the detachment 
for this service from the troops on Long- 
Island, under the command of Brigadier- 
General Greene, it was recommended that 
this officer should be advised of the plan, and 
that the execution should be conducted with 



108 LIFE O^ GENERAL PUTNAM. 

secrecy and celerity, a? well as with decency 
and good order. In the records of the army 
are preserved the daiiy oiders which were 
issued in the absence of the Commander in 
Chief, who, on his return, was not only satis- 
fied that the v^^oiks had been prosecuted with 
all possible despatch, but also that the otlier 
duties had been properly discharged. 

It was the latter end of June, when the 
British fleet, which had been at Halifax wait- 
ing for reinforcements from Europe, began to 
^arrive at New-York. To obstruct its passage, 
some marine preparations had been made. Gen- 
eral Putnam, to whom the direction of the whale- 
boats, fire-rafts, fiat-bottomed boats, and armed 
vessels, was committed, afforded his patronage 
to a project for destroying tlie enemy's ship- 
ping by explosion. A machine^ altogether dif- 
ferent from any thing hitherto devised by tlie 
art of man, had been invented by Mr. David 
Bushnell,"* for sub-marine navk^cUion, which 



* David Bushnell, A.M. of Saybrook, in Connecticut, invented 
several olher machines for the tinuoyance of shipping ; these, from 
tjccidents, not militating against the philosophical principles on 
which their success depended, only partially succeeded, lie de- 
stroyed a vessel in the charge ol Commodore Symmonds, v hose 
report to the Admiral was publislicd One of hj^ kegs also de- 
molished a vessel near the Long-lsiand shore About Christmas, 
1777, he committed to the Delawaie a nuniber of kegs, destined 
to fall among Ihe British fleet at Philadelphia ; but his squadron 
of kegs, having been separated and retarded by the ice, demoliLJied 
but a single boat. Tliis catastrophe, however, produced an air.rm, 
unprecedented in its nature and degree; which h'as been so hap- 
pily described in the subsequent soi;g, by the If on Francis Hop- 
kinson, tiiat the event it celebrates will not be foigo'.ten, so long as 
inankind shall continue to be delighted with works of humour and 
taste. 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 16^ 

was found to answer the purpose perfectly? 
of rowing horizontally at any given depth 
under water, and of rising or sinking at pleas- 

THE BATTLE OF THE KEGS : i Song, 

Tune, Moggy Lawder. 

Gallants, atteiul, and hear a friend 

Thrill forth harmonious clitly: 
Strange things I'll tell, which late befel 

In Philadelphia city. 

'Twas early day, as poets say. 

Just when the sun was rising, 
A soldier stood on log of wood. 

And saw a sight surprising. 

As in a maze he stood to gaze. 

The truth can't be denied, Sir, 
He spied a score of kegs or more. 

Come floating down tlie tide, Sir. 

A sailor, too, in jerkin blue, 

The strange appearance viewing. 
First damn'd his eyes, in great surprise, 

Then said — ** Some mischief's brewing. 

*' These Kegs now hold the rebels bold, 

*' Pack'd up like pickled herring; 
" And they're come down, t* attack the towt> 

"In this new way of ferry'ng." 

The soldier flew ; the sailor too ; 

And, scar'd almost to death, Sir, 
Wore out their shoes to spread the news, 
* And ran till out of breath, Sir. 

Now up and down, throughout the town. 

Most frantic scenes were acted ; 
And some ran here, and some ran there. 

Like men almost distracted. 

Some fire cried, which some denied. 

But said the earth had quaked : 
And girls and boys, with hideous noise» 

Ran through the town half naked. 

Sir William* he, snug as a flea. 
Lay all this time a snoring ; 

* Sir William KoiifC. 

IQ* 



110 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

ure. To this machine, called the American 
Turtle, was attached a magazine of powder^ 
which it was intended to be fastened under 



Nor dreamt of harm, as lie lay wai'm 
In bed with Mrs. L*r*ng. 

Now in a fright, he starts upright, 

Awak'd by such a clatter : 
He rubs boih eyes, and boldly cries^ 

" For God's sake, what's the matter 1" 

At his bed-side he then espied - 

Sir Erskirie* at command, Sir; 
Upon one foot he had one boot. 

Arid t'other in his hand. Sir. 

** Arise ! arise !" Sir Erskine cries ; 

" Tlie rebels — more's the pity — 
" Without a boat, are ail on float, 

*' And rang'd before the city. 

''' The niotlev crew, in vessels new, 

*' With Satan for their guida. Sir, 
''^ Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs, 

**Come driving down the tide, Sir: 

" Therefore prepare for bloody war i 

" These kegs nmsl all be routed, 
»^ Or surely we despis'd sliall be, 

*' And British courage doubted." 

The Royal band now ready stand. 

Ail raiig'd in dread ai*ray, :^ir, 
W^ith stomachs stout, to see it out. 

And make a bloody day, Sir. 

The cannons roar from shore to shore. 

The small arms make a rattle : 
Since wars begnn, I'm sure no man 

E'er saw so strange a battle. 

The rebel I" vales, the rebel dales, 

With rebel trees surrounded. 
The distant woods, t!-e hills and floods, 

AVith rebel echoes sounded. 

* Sir William Erskine. 
i The British officers were so fond of the tvord rebel, thai theu 
fiften applied it mast ab&urdly. 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTXAIVL 111 

the botioni of a ship, with a driving screw, in 
such sort, that the same stroke which disen- 
gaged it from the machine, should put the 
internal clock-work in motion. This beino- 
done, the ordinary operation of a gun-lock 
at the distance of half an hour, an hour, or 
any determinate time, would cause the powder 
to explode, and leave the effects to the com- 
mon laws of nature. The simplicity, yet 
combination discovered in the mechanism of 
this wonderful machine, were acknowledged 
by those skilled in physics, and particularly 
hydraulics, to be not less ingenious than novel. 

The fish below swam to and fro, 

AltackM froai ev'rv quarter; 
" Wliy sure," thought ihcy, " the Dcvii'3 to pay 

*' Mong'st folks above the water." 

The kegs, 'tis said, tbonp^h strongly made 

Of reboi staves antl hoops, Sir, 
Couhi not oppose their pow'rful foes. 

The conqu'ring British troops, Sir. 

From morn to night those men of migU^. 

Display'd amazing courage; 
And when the sun was fairly down, 

lletir'd to sup their porridge. 

An hundred men, with each a pen, 

Or mo"e, upon my word. Sir, 

It is most true, would be too few 

Their valour to record. Sir. 

Such feats did they perform that day, 

U[)On those wicked kegs, Sir, 
Thf.t years to come, if they get home. 

They'll raak^ then* boasts and brags, Sir. 

Mr. Bushnell, having been highlv recommended for his talents 
by Fresident Stiles, General Parsons, and some other gentlemen 
of science, v/ is appointed a Captain in the corps of sappers and 
miners; in which capacity he continued to serve with that corps 
until the conclusion of the war. 



112 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

The inventor, whose constitution was too fee- 
ble to permit him to perform the labour of 
rowing the Turtle, had taught his brother to 
manage it with perfect dexterity ; but unfor- 
tunately his brother fell sick of a fever just 
before the arrival of the fleet. Recourse was 
therefore had to a sergeant in the Connecticut 
troops ; who, having received whatever in- 
structions could be communicated to him in 
a short time, went, too late in the night, with 
all the apparatus, under the bottom of the 
Eagle, a sixty-four gun ship, on board of 
which the British Admiral, Lord Howe, com- 
manded. In coming up, the screw that had 
been calculated to perforate the copper 
sheathing, unluckily struck against some iron 
plates where the rudder is connected with the 
stern. This accident, added to the strength 
of the tide which prevailed, and the want of 
adequate skill in the sergeant, occasioned such 
delay, that the dawn began to appear, where- 
upon he abandoned the magazine to chance, 
and after gaining a proper distance, for the 
sake of expedition, rowed on the surface to- 
wards the town. General Putnam, who had 
been on the wharf anxiously expecting the 
result, from the first glimmenng of light, be- 
held the machine near Governor's-Island, and 
sent a whale-boat to brin^ it on shore. In 
about twenty minutes afterwards the magazine 
exploded, and blew a vast column of water 
to an amazing height in tne air. As the 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 113 

whole business had been kept an Inviolable 
secret, he was not a little diverted with tiie 
various conjectures, whether this stupendous 
noise was produced by a bomb, a meteor, a 
water-spout, or an earthquake. Otlier opera- 
tions of a most serious nature rapidlj suc- 
ceeded, and prevented a repetition of the ex- 
periment. 

On the tw^enty-second day of August, the 
van of the British landed on Long Island, and 
was soon followed by the whole army, except 
one brigade of Hessians, a small body of Brit- 
ish, and some convalescents, left on Sta ten- 
Island. Our troops on Long Island had been 
commanded during the summer by General 
Greene who was now sick ; and General Put- 
nam took the command but two days before 
the battle of Flatbush. The instructions to 
him, pointing in the first place to decisive ex- 
pedients for suppressing the scattering, un- 
meaning, and wasteful fire of our men, con- 
tained regulations for the service of the guards, 
the Brigadiers and the Field-officers of the 
day ; for the appointment and encouragement 
of "proper scouts, as well as for keeping the 
men constantly at their posts ; for preventing 
the burning of buildings, except it should be 
necessary for miiitary purposes, and for pre- 
serving private property fVom pillage and de- 
struction. To these regulations were added, 
in a more diffuse, though not less spirited and 
professional style, reflections on the distinction 



114 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

of an army from a mob ; with exhortations for 
the soldiers to conduct themselves manfully in 
such a cause, and for their Commander to 
oppose the en^^my's approach with detach- 
ments of his best troops; while he should 
endeavour to render their advance more diffi- 
cult by constructing abbatis, and to entrap 
their parties by forming ambuscades. General 
Putnam w^as within the lines, when an engage- 
ment took place on the 27th, between the 
British army and our advanced corps, in which 
we lost about a thousand men in killed and 
missing, with the Generals Sulhvan and Lord 
Stirling made prisoners. But our men, though 
attacked on all sides, fought with great 
bravery ; and the enemy's loss was not light. 
The unfortunate battle of Long-Island, the 
masterly retreat from thence, and the actual 
passage of part of the hostile fleet in the East- 
River, above the town, preceded the evacua- 
tion of New- York. A promotion of four 
Major-Generals, and six Brigadiers, had pre- 
viously been made by Congress. After the 
retreat from Long-Island, the main army, con- 
sisting, for the moment, of sixty battalions, of 
which twenty were Continental, the residue 
levies and militia, was, conformably to the ex- 
igencies of the service, rather than to the rules 
of war, formed into fourteen brigades. Major- 
Gcneral Putnam commanded the right grand 
division of fi\e brigades, the Majors-General 
Spencer and Greene the centre of six brigades, 



MPE OP GENETIAL PUTNAM* 115 

and Major-General Heath the left, which was 
posted near King's- bridge, and composed of 
two brijxades. The whole never amounted 
to twenty thousand effective men; while the 
British and German forces, under Sir William 
Howe, exceeded twenty-two thousand : in- 
deed, the minister had asserted in parliament 
that they would consist of more tnan thirty 
thousand. Our two centre divisions, both 
commanded by General Spencer, in the sick- 
ness of General Greene, moved towards 
Mount Washington, Harlaem Heights, and 
Horn's Hook, as soon as the final resolution 
was taken in a council of war, on the twelfth 
of September, to abandon the city. That 
event, thus circumstanced, took effect a few 
days after. 

On Sunday, the fifteenth, the British, after 
sending three ships of war up the North- 
River, to Bloomingdale, and keeping up, for 
some hours, a severe cannonade on our lines, 
from those already in the East-River, landed 
in force at Turtle Bay. Our new levies, com- 
manded by a State Brigadier-General, fled 
without making resistance. Two brigades 
of General Putnam's division, ordered to 
their support, notwithstanding the exertion of 
their Brigadiers, and of the Commander in 
Chief himself, who came up at the instant, 
conducted themselves in the same shameful 
manner. His Excellency then ordered the 
Heights of Harlaem, a strong position, to be 



116 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

occupied. Thither the forces in the vicinitj, 
as well as the fugitives, repaired. In the 
mean time General Putnam, with the remain- 
der of his command, and the ordinary out- 
posts, was in the city. After having caused 
the brigades to begin their retreat by the 
roule of Blooming^dale, in order to avoid the 
enemy, wlio were then in the possession of the 
main road leading to lling's-bridge, he gal- 
lopped to call off the pickets ami guards. 
Having myself been a volunteer in his division, 
and acting Adjutant to the last regiment that 
left the city, I had frequent o[)purtunities, that 
day, of beholding him, for the purpuseof issu- 
ing orders, and encouraging the troops, flying, 
on his horse covered with foam, wherevei his 
presence was most necessary. Without his 
extraoidinary exertions, the guards mu^t have 
been inevitably lost, and it is probable the 
entire corps would have been cut in pieces. 
When we were not far from BloomingdaJe, an 
Aid-de-camp came from him at full speed, to 
ir?forra that a column of British infantry was 
descending upon our riglit. Our lear was 
soon fired upon, and the Colonel of our regi- 
ment, whose order w'as just ccmmunicated for 
the tront to file off to the left, w^as killed on 
tbe spot. With no other loss we joined the 
array, after dark, on the Heights of Harlaem. 
Before our brigades came in, we were 
given up for lost by all our friends. So criti- 
cal indeed was our situation, and so narrow 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 117 

the gap bj which we escaped, that the instant 
we had passed the enemy closed it by extending 
their hne from river to river. Our men, who 
had been fifteen hours under arms, harassed 
by marching and countermarching, in conse- 
quence of incessant alarms, exhausted -as they 
■were by heat and thirst, (for the day proved 
insupportably hot, and few or none had can- 
teens, insomuch, that some died at the brooks 
where they drank) if attacked, could have 
made but feeble resistance. 

If we take into consideration the debilitat- 
ing sickness which weakened almost all our 
troops, the hard duty by which they were 
worn down in constructing numberless de- 
fences, the continual want of rest they had 
suffered since the enemy landed, in guarding 
from nocturnal surprise, the despondency in- 
fused into their minds by an insular situation, 
and a consciousness of inferiority to the enemy 
in discipline, together with the disadvanta- 
geous terms upon which, in their state of sep- 
aration, they might have been forced to 
engage, it appears highly probable that day 
would have presented an easy victory to the 
British. On the other side, the American 
Commander in Chief had wisely countenanced 
an opinion, then universally credited, that our 
army was three times more numerous than it 
was in reality. It is not a subject for aston- 
ishment, tiiat the British, ignorant oT the exist- 
ing circumstances, imposed upon as to the 
11 



118 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAMi 

numbers bj reports, and recollecting wbat a 
feAV brave men, slightly entrenched, had per- 
formed at Bunker-Hill, should proceed with 
great circumspection. For their reproaches, 
that the rebels, as they affected to style us, 
loved digging better than fighting, and that 
they earthed themselves in holes like foxes, 
but ill concealed at the bottom of their 
own hearts the profound impression that ac- 
tion had made. Cheap and Gontemptible as 
we had once seemed in their eyes, it had 
taught them to hold us in some respect. This 
respect, in conjunction with a fixed belief, 
tliat the enthusiastic spirit of our opposition 
niustsoon subside, and that the inexhaustible 
resources of Britain would ultimately triumph, 
without leaving any thing to chance (not the 
avarice or treachery of the British General, 
as the factious of his own nation w ished to in- 
sinuate,) retarded their operation, and afforded 
us leisure to rescue from annihilation the mis- 
erable relics of an army, hastening to dissolu- 
tion by the expiration of enlistments, and the 
country itself from irretrievable subjugation. 
In truth, we are not less indebted to the 
mattock at one period, than to the musket 
at another, for our political salvation. 
It required great talents to determine when 
one or the other was most profitably to be 
employed. I am aware how lashionable it 
has become to compare the American Com- 
mander in Chief, for the prudence displayed 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 119 

in those dilatory and defensive operations, so 
happily proseruted in the early stages of the 
war, to the illust.ioMs Roman, who acquired 
immortality in restoring the Commonwealth 
by delay. Advantageous and flattering as the 
comparison at first appears, it will be found, 
on examination, to stint the American Fabius 
to tlie smaller moiety of his merited lame. 
Diii HE not. in scenes of almost unparalleled 
activity, discover specimen* of transcendent 
abilities ; and might it not be proved, to pro- 
fessional men, that boldness in council, and 
rapidity in execution, were, ai least, equally 
with prudent procrastination, and the quality 
of not being compelled to action, attributes of 
his military genius ? This^ however, was an 
occasion, as apparent as pressing, for attaining 
his object hy delay. From that he had every 
thing to gain, nothing to lose. Yet there were 
not wanting politicians^ at this very time, 
who querulously blamed these Fabian meas- 
ures, a.'id loudly clamoured that the immense 
labour and expense bestowed on the fortifica- 
tion of New-York, had been thrown away ; 
that if we could not face the enemy there 
after so manv preparations, we might as well 
relinquish the contest at once, for we could 
no where make a stand ; and that if General 
Washington, with an army of sixty thousand 
men, strongly entrenched, declined fighting 
with Sir William Howe, who had little more 
than one third of that number, it was not to 



120 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

be expected he would find anj other occa- 
sion that might induce him to engage. But 
General Washington, content to sutTer a tem- 
porary sacrifice of personal reputation, for the 
sake of securing a permanent advantage to 
his country, and regardless of those idle clam- 
ours for which he had furnished materials, by 
making his countrymen, in order the m.ore 
effectually to make his enemy believe his 
force much greater than it actually was, in- 
flexibly pursued his system, and gloriously 
demonstrated how poor and pitiful, m the es- 
timation of A GREAT MIND, are the censorious 
strictures of those novices in war and politics, 
who, with equal rashness and impudence, pre- 
sume to decide dogmatically on the merit of 
plans they could neither originate or compre- 
hend ! 

That night our soldiers, excessively fatigued 
by the sultry march of the day, their clothes 
wet by a severe shower of rain that succeeded 
towards the evening, their blood chilled by 
the cold wind that produced a sudden change 
in the temperature of the air, and their hearts 
sunk within them by the loss of baggage, ar- 
tillery, and works in which they ha J been 
taught to put great confidence, lay upon their 
arms, covered only by the clouds of an uncom- 
fortable sky. To retrieve our disordered 
affairs, and prevent the enemy from profiting 
by them, no exertion was relaxed, no vigilance 
remitted on the part of our higher officersv 



,LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 121; 

The regiments which had been least exposed 
to fatigue that day, furnished the necessary 
picquets to secure the army from surprise. 
Those whose military lives had been short 
and unpractised, felt enough besides lassitude 
of body to disquiet the tranquiUity of their 
repose. Nor had those who were older in 
service, and of more experience, any subject 
for consolation. The warmth of enthusiasm 
seemed to be extinguished. The force of dis- 
cipline had not sufficiently occupied its place 
to give men a dependence upon each other. 
We were apparently about to reap the bitter 
fruits of that jealous policy, which some lead- 
ing men, with the best motives, had sown in 
our federal councils, when tliey caused the 
mode to be adopted, for carrying on the war 
by detachmentG of militia, from apprehension 
that an established Continental army, aft^r 
defending the country against foreign inva* 
sion, might subvert its liberties themselves. 
Paradoxical as it will appear, it may be profit- 
able to be known to posterity, that while our 
very existence as an independent people was 
in question, the patriotic jealousy for the safe- 
ty of our tutu re freedom had been carried to 
such a virtuous but dangerous excess as well 
nigh to preclude the attainment of our Jnde- 
pe/idence. Happily that limited and hazard- 
ous system soon gave room to one more en- 
lightened and salutary. This may be attri- 
buted to the reiterated arguments, the open 
11* 



122 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

remonstrances, and the confidential communi- 
cations of the Commander in Chief; who, 
though not apt to despair of the RepubUc, on 
this occasion expressed himself in terms of 
unusual despondency. He declared, in his 
letters, that he found, to his utter astonish- 
ment and mortification, that no reliance could 
be placed on a great proportion of his pres- 
ent troops, and that, unless efficient measures 
for estabhshing a permanent force should be 
speedily pursued, we had every reason to fear 
the final ruin of our cause. 

Next morning several parties of the enemy 
appeared upon the plains in our front. On 
receiving this intelligence. General Washing- 
ton rode quickly to the out-posts, for the 
purpose of preparing against an attack, if the 
enemy should advance with that design. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Knowlton's rangers, a 
fine selection from the eastern regiments, who 
had been skirmishing with an advanced party, 
came in, and informed the General that a 
body of British were under cover of a small 
eminence at no considerable distance. His 
Excellency, willing to' raise our men from 
their dejection by the splendour of some little 
success, ordered Lieutenant*Colonel Knowl- 
ton, with his rangers, and Major Leitch, with 
three companies of Weedon's regiment of Vir- 
ginians, to gain their rear; while appearances 
should be made of an attack in front. As 
%Qou as the enemy saw the party sent to de- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 123 

coy ihem, they ran precipitately down the 
hlil, took possession of some fences and bushes, 
and commenced a brisk firing at long shot. 
Unfortunately Knovvlton andLeitch made their 
onset rather in flank than in rear. The enemy 
changed their front, and the skirmish at once 
became close and warm. Major Leitch^ hav- 
ing received three balls through his side, was 
soon borne from the field ; and Colonel Knowl- 
ton, who had distintjuished himself so gallantly 
at the battle of Bunker-Hill, was mortally 
wounded immediately after. Their mep, how- 
ever, undaunted by these disasters, stimulated 
with the thirst of revenge for the loss of their 
leaders, and, conscious of acting under the eye 
of the Commander in Chief, maintained the 
conflict with uncommon spirit and persever- 
ance. But the General, seeing them in need 
of support, advanced part of the Maryland 
regiments of Griffith and Richardson, together 
with some detachments from such eastern 
corps as chanced to be most contiguous to 
the place of action. Our troops this day, with- 
out exception, behaved with the greatest in- 
trepidity. So bravely did they repulse the 
British, that Sir William Howe moved his 
reservcy with two field pieces, a battalion of 
Hessian grenadiers, and a company of Chas- 
seurs, to succour his retreating troops. Gene- 
ral Washinp;ton, not willinf( to draw on a 



* Major Leitcb, after languishing some days, died of a lockeiT 
jaw. 



124 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

general action, declined pressing the pursuit. 
In this engagement were the second and third 
battahons of light infantry, the forty-second 
British regiment, and the German Chasseurs, 
of whom eight ofiicers, and upwards of seventy 
privates were w^ounded, and our people buried 
nearly twenty, who were left dead on the field. 
We had about forty wounded : our loss in 
killed, except of two valuable officers, was very 
inconsiderable. 

An advantage,"^^ so trivial in itself, produced^ 
in event, a surprising and almost incredible ef- 
fect upon the whole army. Amongst the troops 
not engaged, who, during the action, were 
throwing earth from the new trenches, with 
an alacrity that indicated a determination to 
defend them, every visage was seen to bi ight- 

* A transcript from General "Wasliinjton's Publii- Orders o'.tlie 
seventeeath will, better than any other flocumetit that couit' be. 
aflduced, show his seiuiment oa the conduct of the t^Ao ',)rectMii?ig 
days, and how fervesitly he wished to foster t!ie good disposiiioiiis 
discoYered on the last. 

"ORDERS. 

" Head- Quarters, Harlaem Heights- , September 17, 1776. 
** Paroje, Leitch. Countersign, Virginia. 

•• The General most heartily thanks the troops commanded yes- 
terday by Major Leitch, who first, advanced upon the enemy, and 
the others who so resolutely supportetl them. Th.r behaviour yes- 
terdny was such a contrast to that oi some of the troops the day 
liefore, as must show what may be done, w here officers and soldiers 
■will exert themselves. Once more, therefore, the General calls 
upon officers and men, to act up to the n«ib!e cause in which they 
are engaged, and to support the honour and libevlies of their coun- 
try. 

*' The gallant and brave Colonel Knowlton, who would have been 
an honour to aciy country, having fallen yehtcrdav, while eriorionsly 
fiifhting, Captain Brown is to take the command cf the party late- 
ly led by Colonel Knowltoc. Officers aud men are to obey hiili: 
accordingly." 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 125 

en, and to assume, instead of the gloom of 
despair, the glow of animation. This change, 
no less sudden than happy, left little room to 
doubt that the men, who ran the day before 
at the sight of an enemy, would now, to wipe 
a way the stain of that disgrace, and to recover 
the coniidence of their General, have conduct- 
ed themselves in a vevj diiferent manner. 
Some alteration was made in the distribution 
of corps to prevent the British from gaining 
either flank in the succeeding night. General 
Putnam, who commanded on the rischt. was 
directed in orders, in case the enemy should 
attempt to force the pass, to apply for a rein- 
forcement to General Spencer, who command- 
ed on the left. 

General Putnam, who was too good an 
husbandman himsejf not to have a respect 
for the labours and improvements of others, 
strenuously seconded the views of the Com- 
mander in Chief in preventing the devastation 
of farms, and the violation of private property. 
For under pretext that the property in this 
quarter belonged to friends to the British gov- 
ernment, as indeed it mostly did, a spirit of 
rapine and licentiousness began to prevail, 
which, unless repressed in the beginning, fore- 
boded, besides the subversion of disciphne, the 
disgrace and defeat of our arms. 

Our new defences now becoming so strong 
as not to admit insult with impunity, and Sir 
William Howe, not choosing to place too much 



126 LIFE 05* GENERAL PUTNAM. 

at risk in attacking us in front, on the 12tli 
day of October, leaving liord Percy with one 
Hessian and two British brigades, in his Hnes 
at Harlaeni, to cover New-York, embarked 
with the main body of his army, vvitli an in- 
tention of landing at Frog^s JS^eck^ situated 
near the town of West-Chester, and httle 
more than a league above the communication 
called King's-bridge, which connects New- 
York Island with the oiain. There was no- 
thing to oppose him; and he effected his de- 
barkation by nine o'clock in the morning. 
The same policy of keeping our army as com- 
pact as possible ; the same system of avoiding 
being forced to action ; and the same precau- 
tion to prevent the interruption of supplies, 
reinforcements or retreat, that lately dictated 
the evacuation of New-York, now induced 
General Washington to move towards the 
strong grounds in the upper part of West- 
Chester county. 

About the same time General Putnam w^as 
sent to the western side of the Hudson, to 
provide against an irruption into the Jerseys, 
and soon after to Philadelphia, to put that 
town into a posture of defence.* Thither i 

* From the preceding paragj-apli it woukl feem that General 
Putnam was detaclied, first to New-Jerst^y, ami soon afterwards to 
Philadelphia, immediately after the movement of the British army 
to Frog's neck. The t:uth is, he was with the army at White- 
Plains, nnd had part in the actifsn fought there the 'J8th of Octo''er. 
It was the position of Brigadier-General Al'Dougal nhich was at- 
tacked, and ^V^ashington ordered a detachment of the army under 
Major-General Putnam to support liim. Some days after this a^- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 127 

attend him, without stooping to dilate on the 
subsequent incidents, that might swell a folio, 
though here compressed to a single para- 
graph; without attempting to give in detail 
the skilful retrograde movements of our Com- 
mander in Chief, wfio, after detaching a garri- 
son for Fort Washington, by pre-occupjing 
with extemporaneous redoubts and entrench- 
ments, the ridges from jMile-Square to White- 
Plains, and by folding one brigade behind 
another, in rear of those ridges that run paral- 
lel with the Sounds brought offali his artillery, 
stores, and sick, in the face of a superior foe ; 
■without commenting on the partial and equivo- 
cal battle fought near the last mentioned vil- 
lage, or the cause why the British, then in full 
force, (for the last of the Hessian infantry and 
British light-horse had just arrived) did not 
more seriously endeavour to induce a general 
engagement; without journalizing their milita- 
ry manoeuvres in falling back to King's-bridge, 
capturing Fort Washington, Fort Lee, and 
marching through the Jerseys; without enu- 
merating the instances of rapine, murder, lust, 
and devastation, that marked their progress, 



tion, General Putnam was ordered to cross the Hudson, and pro- 
vide against an irruption of the eiiemv into Nevv-Jersey. He was 
soon tbllowcd hy \Vashing:ton with pari of Isis army, which lO'k 
post in the vicinity of Fort Leo, and, aftei- the fall of chat F; rt. 
General Putnam was constantly ahout his person dui-in?^ the whole 
retreat through New-Jei-se), and among the last of the fugitive ar- 
my which crossed the Delaware: — ih' nit was t'lat lie \>aS(.rdered 
to Philadelphia to fi>rtify aod defend tliat city, which ' ■ ngress had 
ordered to he defended to the last extremity. CEcliior.J 



32'8 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

and filled our bosoms with fiorror and Indigna- 
tion ; witliout describing how a division of our 
dissolving army, with General Washington, 
was driven before them beyond the Delaware; 
without painting tiie naked and forlorn condi- 
tion of these much injured men, amidst the 
rigours of an inclement season; and without 
even sketching the consternation that seized 
the States at this perilous period, when Gene- 
ral Lee, in leading from the north a small 
reinforcement to our troops, was himself tak- 
en prisoner by surprise ; when every thing 
seemed decidedly declining to the last extremi- 
ty, and when every prospect but served to 
augment the depression of despair — until the 
genius of one man, in one day, at a single 
stroke, wrested from the veteran battalions of 
Britain and Germany the fruits acquired by 
the total operations of a successful campaign, 
and re-animated the expiring hope of a whole 
nation, by the glorious enterprize at Trenton. 
While the hostile forces, rashly inflated 
with pride by a series of uninterrupted suc- 
cesses, and fondly dreaming that a period 
would soon be put to their labours, by the 
completion of their conquests, had beon pur- 
suing the wretched remnants of a disbanded 
army to the banks of the Delaware, General 
Putnam was diligently employed in fortifying 
Philadelphia, the capture of which appeared 
indubitably to be their principal object. Here, 
by authority and example, he strove to concili- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 129 

ale contending factions, and to excite the citi- 
zens to uncommon efforts in defence of every 
thifii^ interesting to freemen. His persorjal 
industry was unparalleled. His orders,^ vviih 
respect to extinguishing accidental fires, ad- 
vancing the public works, as well as in regard 
to other important objects, were perfecdy mili- 
tary and proper. But his healtii was, for a 
while, impaired by his unrelaxed exertions. 

The Commander in Chief having, in spite of 
all obstacles, made good his retreat over the 
Delaware, wrote to General Putnam from his 
Camp above the Falls of Trenton, on the very 
day he re-crossed the river to surprise the 
Hessians, expressing his satisfaction at the re- 
estabiishrnent of that General's health, and in- 
forming, that if he had not himself been well 
convinced before of the enemy's intention to 
possess themselves of Philadelphia, as soon as 
the frost should form ice strong enougli to 

* As a specimen, the following is preserved : 
"GE>fERAL ORDERS. 

<cr- 1 "f^^^'^-Q^t^i^'iers, Philadelphia. Decembar U, 1776. 
Colonel Griffin is appointed Adjutant-Genera! t.; tbe trocns lu 
and about tins oty. All orders from the General, throot-h him, 
eitner written or verba!, are to be strictly attended to and punc- 
tually obeved. ^ 

^ in case of an alarm of fire, the city gnr»rds aud patrole? are to 
sutler the luhabitants to pa^s, unmolested, at anv houi* of the fi-hr - 
and the good people of Philadelphia are earneativ reciaest.;.» ^rd 
rtesireU to give every assistance in their pov/er, wi^h encint^s .,iul 
buckets, to extinguish the fire. \nd as the Cona-./js* h«v^ M.-.L^'ed 
the cit^ to be defended to ths last extronjttv, the Goiei-a! hooes 
that no person Will refuse to give every nssi^laacp i.ossiblc lo c'm- 
ptete the toriifacations that are to be erected in a.ui about the ciiy. 

"ISRAEL PUTNAM," 

12 



130 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

transport them and their artillery across the 
Delaware, he had now obtained an intercepted 
letter which placed (he matter bejond a doubt. 
He added, that if the citizens of Philadelphia 
had any regard for the town, not a moment's 
time was to be lost until it should be put in 
the best possible posture of defence; but least 
that should not be done, he directed the re- 
moval of all public stores, except provisions 
necessary for immediate use, to places of 
greater security. He queried whether, if a 
party of militia could be sent from Philadel- 
phia to support those in the Jerseys, about 
Mount-Holly, it would not serve to save them 
from submission ? At the same time he signifi- 
ed, as his opinion, the expediency of sending 
an active and influential officer to inspirit the 
people, to encourage them to assemble in 
arms, as well as to keep those already in arms 
from disbanding ; and concluded by manifest- 
ing a wish that Colonel Forman, whom he 
desired to see for this purpose, might be em- 
ployed on the service. 

The enemy had vainly, as incautiously, im- 
agined that to overrun was to conquer. They 
had even carried their presumption on our ex- 
treme weakness, and expected submission so 
far as to attempt covering the country through 
which they had marched with an extensive 
chain of cantonments. That link, which the 
post at Trenton supplied, consisted of a Hes- 
sian brigade of infantry, a company ofChas- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 131 

seurs, a squadron of light dragoons, and six 
field pieces. x\t eight o'clock in the morning 
of the twenty-sixth of December, G-^neral 
Washington, with twenty-four hundred men, 
came upon them, after they had paraded, took 
one thousand prisoners, and re-passed the same 
day, without loss, to his encampment. As 
soon as the troops were recovered from their 
excessive fati^'ue, General Washington re- 
crossed a second time to Trenton. On the 
second of January, Lord Cornwallis, with the 
bulk of the British army, advanced upon him, 
cannonaded his post, and offered him battle : 
but the two armies being separated by the in* 
tcrposition of Trenton Creek, General Wash- 
ington had it in his option to decline an en- 
gagement, which he. did for the sake of strik- 
ing the masterly stroke that he then meditated. 
Having kindled frequent fires around his camp, 
posted faithful men to keep them burning, and 
advanced sentinels, whose fidelity might be 
relied upon, he decamped silently after dark, 
and, by a circuitous route, reached Princeton 
at nine o'clock the next morning. The noise 
of the firing, by which he killed and captured 
between five and six hundred of the British 
brigade in that town, was the first notice Lord 
Cornwallis had of this stolen march. Gene- 
ral Washington, the project successfully ac- 
complished, instantly filed olF for the moun- 
tainous grounds of Morris- To vvn. Meanwhile. 
Iiis Lordship, who arrived, by a forced march. 



132 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

at Princeton, just as he had left it, finding the 
Americans could not be overtaken, proceeded, 
without halting, to Brunswick. 

On the fifth of January, 1777, from Pluck-* 
emin. General Washington despatched an ac- 
count of this second success to General Put- 
nam, and ordered him to move immediately, 
with all his troops, to Croswick's, for the pur- 
pose of co-operating in recovering the Jersevs; 
an event which the present fortunate juncture, 
while the enemy were yet panic-struck, ap- 
peared to promise. The General cautioned 
him, however, if the enemy should still con- 
tinue at Brunswick, to guard with great cir- 
cumspection against a surprise ; especially as 
they, having recently suffered by two attacks, 
could scarcely avoid being edged with resent- 
ment to attempt retaliation. His Excellency 
farther advised him to give out his strength to 
be twice as great as it was; to forward on all 
the baggage and scattering men belonging to 
the division destined for Morris-Town; to em- 
ploy as many spies as he should think proper; 
1o keep a number of horsemen, in the dress of 
the country, going constantly backwards and 
forwards on tlie same secret service; and, 
lasdy, if he sliould discover any intentiuD ov 
motion of the enemy that could be depended 
upon, and might be of consequence, not to 
fail in conveying tlie intelligence, as rapidly 
as possible by express, to Head-Quaiters. 
Major-General Putnam was directed soon af- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 133 

tcr to take post at Princeton, were he contin- 
ued until the spring. He had never with him 
more than a few hundred troops, thoucrh he 
was only at fifteen miles distant from the ene- 
my's strong garrison of Brunswick. At one 
period, from a sudden diminution, occasioned 
by the tardiness of the militia turning out to 
replace those whose time of service was ex- 
pired, he had fewer men for duty than he had 
miles of frontier to guard. Nor was the Com- 
mander in Chief in a more eligible situation. 
It is true, that while he had scarcely the sem- 
blance of an army, under the specious parade 
of a park of artillery, and the imposing ap- 
pearance of his Head-Quarters, established at 
Morris-Town, he kept up, in the eyes of his 
countrymen, as w^ell as in the opinion of his 
enemy, the appearance of no contemptible 
force. Future generations will find difficulty 
in conceiving how a handful of new-levied men 
and militia, w^ho were necessitated to be in- 
oculated for the small-pos in the course of the 
winter, could be subdivided and posted so ad- 
vantageously, as effectually to protect the in- 
habitants, confine the enemy, curtail their 
forage, and beat up their quarters, without 
sustaining a single disaster. 

In the battle of Princeton, Captain M'Pher- 
son, of the 17th British regiment, a very wor- 
thy Scotchman, was desperately wounded in 
the lungs, and left with the dead. Upon Gen- 
eral Putnam's arrival there, he found him lan- 
12=^ 



131 LIFE OF GE.XEKAL PUTxVAIvL 

gulshing in extreme distress, without a sur- 
geon, without a single accommodation, and 
without a friend to solace the sinking spiiit in 
the gloomy hour of death. He visited, and 
immediately caused every possible comfort to 
be administered to him. Captain M'Pherson, 
who, contrary to all appearances, recovered, 
after having demonstrated to General Putnam 
the dignified sense of obligations which a gen- 
erous mind wishes not to conceal, one day, in 
familiar conversation, demanded, ''Pray, Sir, 
what countryman are you?" — " An American," 
answered the latter. — " Not a Yankee ?" said 
the other. — " A full blooded one," replied the 
General. "By G — d. I am sorry for that," re- 
joined M'Pherson, '' 1 did not think there could 
be so much goodness and generosity in an 
American, or, indeed, in any body but a 
Scotchman." 

While the recovery of Captain M'Pherson 
was doubtful, he desired that General Putnam 
would permit a friend in the British army at 
Brunswick to come and assist him in making 
HIS WILL. General Putnam, who had then 
only fifty men in his whole command, was 
sadly embarrassed by the proposition. On 
the one hand, he was not content that a Brit- 
ish officer should have an opportunity to spy 
out the weakness of his post ; on the other, it 
was scarcely in his nature to refuse complying 
with a dictate of humanity. He luckily be- 
thought himself of an expedient which he has- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 135 

tenecj to put in practice. A flag of truce was 
despatched witii Captain M'Pherson's request, 
but under an injunction not to return with his 
friend until after dark. In the evening liglits 
were placed in all the rooms of the College, 
and in every apartment of the vacant houses 
throughout the town. During the whcic 
night, the fifty men, sometimes altogether, 
and sometimes in small detachments, were 
marched from different quarters by the house 
in which M'Pherson lay. Afterwards it was 
known that tlie officer who came on the visit, 
at his return, reported that General Putnam's 
army, upon the most moderate calculation, 
could not consist of less than four or five 
thousand men. 

This winter's campaign, for our troops con- 
stantly kept the field after regaining a footing 
in the Jerseys, has never yet been faithfully 
and feelingly described. The sudden resto- 
ration of our cause from the very verge of ruin 
was interwoven with such a tissue of inscru- 
table causes and extraordinary events, that, 
fearful of doing the subject greater injustice, 
by a passing disquisition than a purposed si- 
lence, I leave it to the leisure of abler pens. 
The ill policy of the British doubtless contrib- 
uted to accelerate this event. For the man- 
ner, impolitic as inhuman, in which they man- 
aged their temporary conquests, tended evi- 
dently to alienate the affections of their ad- 
herents, to confirm the wavering in aa opposite 



136 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

interest, to rouse the supine into activity, to 
assemble the dispersed to the standard of 
America, and to infuse a spirit of revolt into 
the minds of those men who had, from neces- 
sity, submitted to their power. Their conduct 
in warrino: with fire and sword ao-ainst the 
imbecility of youth, and the decrepitude of 
age; against the arts, the sciences, the curious 
inventions, and the elegant improvements in 
civilized hfe ; against the melancholy widow, 
the miserable orphan, the peaceable prcfx;ssor 
of humane literature, and the sacred minister 
of the gospel, seemed to operate as powerful- 
ly, as if purposely intended to kindle the dor- 
mant spark of resistance into an inextinguish- 
able flame. If we add to the black catalogue 
of provocations already enumerated their in- 
satiable rapacity in plundering friends and foes 
indiscriminately ; their libidinous brutality in 
violating the chastity of the female sex ; their 
more than Gothic rage in defacing private 
writings, public records, libraries of learning, 
dwellings of individuals, edifices for education, 
and temples of the Deity; together with their 
insufierable ferocity, unprecedented indeed 
among civilized nations, in murdering on the 
field of battle the wounded while bes-ojing; tor 
mercy, m causing their prisoners to famish 
with hunger and cold in prisons and prison 
ships, and in carrying their malice beyond 
death itself, by denying the decent rites of 
sepulture to the dead ; we shall not be aston- 



LIFE OP GENERAL F^UTNAM. 137 

ished that the yeomanry in the two Jerseys, 
when the first glimmering of" hope began to 
break in upon them, rose as one man, with the 
unalterable resolution to peiish in the generous 
cause, or expel their merciless invaders. 

The principal officers, stationed at a variety 
of well-chosen, and at some almost inaccessi- 
ble positions, seemed all to be actuated by the 
same soul, and only to vie with each otlier in 
giving proofs of vigilance, enterprise and val- 
our. From what has been said respecting the 
scantiness of our aggregate force, it will be 
concluded^ that the number of men, under the 
orders of each, was indeed very small. But 
the uncommon alertness of the troops, w^ho 
were incessantly hovering round the enemy in 
scouts, and the constant communication they 
kept between the several stations most con- 
tiguous to each other, agreeably to the in- 
structions* of the General in Chief, tooether 



* The annexed private orders to Lord Stirling will show, in a 
Jaconic and raiiitary manner, the system of service then pursued : 

" To Brigadier-General Lord Stirling. 

«• My Lord, 

" You are f) repair to Baskenridge, and take upon you the coni» 
mand of the troops now there, and such as may be sent to your 
care. 

"You are to endeavour, as much as possible, to liarass ar.d an- 
noy the enemy, by keeping scouting parties constantly, or as iVe- 
queiitiy as possible, around their quarters. 

*' As you viil be in the neiglibourho«;d of Generals Dickenson 
aiul Warner, 1 recommend it to you to keep up a correspondence 
with them, and endeavour to regulate your parties by theirs, so as 
to have sorae constantly out. 

*' Use every means iti your power to obtain intelligence from the 
tiicniy ; Y>hlt.h ro3y possi!>Iy be better eflcclcd by engaging some 



138 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

with their readiness in giving, and confidence 
of receiving such reciprocal aid as the exigen- 
cies might require, served to supply the detect 
of force. 

This manner of doing duty not only put our 
own posts beyond the reach of sudden insult 
and surprise, but so exceedingly harassed and 
intimidated the enemy, that foragers were sel- 
dom sent out by them, and never except in 
very large parties. General Dickenson, who 
commanded on General Putnam's left, discov- 
ered, about the 20th of Januar}', a foraging 
party, consisting of about four hundred men, 
on the opposite side of the Mill-stone^ two 
miles from Somerset court-house. As the 
bridge was possessed and defended by three 
field-pieces, so that it could not be passed, 
General Dickenson, at the head of four hun- 
dred militia, broke the ice, crossed the river 
where the water was about three feet deep, 
resolutely attacked, and totally defeated the 
foragers. Upon their abandoning the convoy, 
a few prisoners, forty waggons, and more than 
a hundred draft horses, with a considerable 
booty of cattle and sheep, fell into his hands. 



of those people who have obtained Protections to go in, under pre- 
tence of asking advice, than by any other means. 

*• You will also use every means in your power to obtain and 
conimunicate the earliest accounts of the enemy s movements; 
and to assemble, in the speediest manner possible, your troops 
either for offence or defence. 

" fiiven at f/ead- Quarters, the fourth day o/Febrnari/, \777. 

" GEO. WASHlNCrrOX ' 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 139 

Nor were our operations on General Put- 
nam's right flank less fortunate. To give 
countenance to the numerous friends of tiie 
British government in the county of Mon- 
mouth appears to have been a principal motive 
with Sir William Howe for stretching the 
chain of his cantonments, by his own confes- 
sion,* previously to his disaster, rather too 
far. After that chain became broken, as I 
have already related, by the blows at Trenton 
and Princeton, he was obliged to collect, dur- 
ing the rest of the winter, the useless remains 
in his barracks at Brunswick. In the mean- 
time. General Putnam was much more suc- 
cessful in his attempts to protect our dispersed 
and dispirited friends in the same district ; 
who, environed on every side by envenomed 
adversaries, remained inseparably rivetted in 
affection to American independence. He first 
detached Colonel Gurney, and afterwards Ma- 

* Extract of a letter from General Sir William Howe to 
Z/orc? George Ge'rmaine, dated j\^e-iv-YortCy December 9,0y 
177G. 

Having mentioned the fruitless attempt of Lord Cornwallia to 
find boats at Corryers ferry to pass the Delaware — he proceeds 
tlius: 

**The passage of the Delaware being thus rendered impractica- 
ble, his Lordship took post at Pennington, in which place and 
Trenton the two divisions remained until the fourteenth, when the 
weather having become too severe to keep the field, and the win- 
ter cantonments being arranged, the troops marched from both 
places to their respective stations, Tlie chain, I own, is rather too 
extensive, but I was indr.ced to occupy Burlington to cover the 
county if Monmouth, in which there arc many loyal inhabitants ; 
and trusting to the almost general submission of the country to the 
southward of this chain, and to the strength of the corps plated in 
the advanced posts, I conclude the troops will be in perfect seca- 
rity.'* 



140 LIFE OP GExNERAL PUTNAM. 

jor Davls,"^ with such parties of militia as 
could be spared, for their support. Several 
skirmishes ensued, in which our people had al- 
ways the advantage. They took, at different 
times, many prisoners, horses and waggons 
from foraging parties. In effect, so well did 
they cover the country, as to induce some of 
the most respectable inhabitants to declare, 
that the security of the persons, as well as the 
salvation of the property of many friends to 
freedom was owing to the spirited exertions of 
these two detachments ; who, at the same 
time that they rescued the country from the 
tyranny of tories, afforded an opportunity for 
the militia to recover from their consternation, 
to embody themselves in warlike array, and to 
stand on their defence. 

During this period, General Putnam having 
received unquestionable intelligence that a 
party of refugees, in British pay, had taken 
post, and were erecting a kind of redoubt at 
Lawrence's Neck, sent Colonel Nelson, with 



* As there happened to be in my possession a copy of one of his 
letters to tliose officers, it was thought M-orthy of insertion here, in 
order to demonstrate his satisfaction with their conduct. 

"To •VJajor John Davis, of tlie third Battalion of CoiDberland 
*' County Militia. 
" Sir, 
** I am much oWiged to 3'ou for your activity, vigour, and dili- 
gence since you have been under my command ; you will, tlierefore, 
inarch your men to Philadelphia, and there distliiirge them ; re- 
turning into the store all the ammunition; arms and accoutremtj»nts 
you received at that place. 

** I am, Sir, your humble servant, 

" ISRAEL PUTNAM. 
t( Princeton^ February 5, 1777." 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 141 

one hundred and Mty militia, to surprise them. 
That officer conducted with so much secrecy 
and decision as to take the whole prisoners. 
These refui>ees^ were commanded bj Major 
Stockton, belonging to Skinner's brigade, and 
amounted to sixty in number. 

A short time after this event Lord Corn- 
waUis sent oul another Coraging part} tow^ards 
Bound-Brook. General Putnam, having le- 
ceived notice from his emissaries, detached 
Major Smith, with a few riflemen, to annoy 
the party, and followed himself with the rest 
of his force. Before he could come up, Major 
Smith, who had formed an ambush, attacked 
the enemy, killed several horses, took a few 
prisoners and sixteen baggage-waggons, wim- 
out sustaining any injury. By such opera- 
tions, our hero, in the course of the w^inter, 
captured nearly a thousand prisoners. 

In the latter part of February General 
Washington advised General Putnam, that, in 
consequence of a large accession of streno;th 
from New-York to the British army at Bruns- 
wick, it was to be apprehended they would 
soon make a forward movement towards the 

' Ext'^dct of a letter from General Put k am to the Council of 
Safety of Pejinsi/lvaniay dated at Princeton, February i8, 
1777 

*« Yesterday evenin,s^ Colonel Nelsoo, with a hundred and fifty 
men, at Lawrence's Neck, attacked sixty men ««f Cortlandr Skin- 
ner's Bi'igade, cominan'Jed bs llie enemy's renowneu Land 
PiLO I Major Richard Stockton, icutul them, j.;d took the 
whole prisoners — among them the Maj i-, a Taptnin «nd three sub- 
alterns, with seventy stand of arms. Fifty of the Bedford JPenU' 
sylvania Riflemen behaved like veterans^ 

13 



142 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Delaware : in which case the latter was direct- 
ed to cross the river with his actual force, to 
assume the command of the militia who might 
assemble, to secure the boats on the west side 
of the Delaware, and to facilitate the passage 
of the rest of the army. But the enemy did 
not remove from their winter-quarters until 
the season arrived when green forage could 
be supplied. In the intermediate period, the 
correspondence on the part of General Putnam 
with the Commander in Chief consisted prin- 
cipally of reports and enquiries concerning the 
treatment of some of the following descriptions 
of persons : either of those who came within 
our lines with flags and pretended flags, or 
who had taken protection from the enemy, or 
who had been reputed disaffected to our cause, 
or who were designed to be comprehended in 
the American Proclamation, which required 
that those who had taken protections should 
give them to the nearest American officer, or 
go within the British lines. The letters of his 
Excellency in return, generally advisory, were 
indicative of confidence and approbation. 

When the spring had now so far advanced 
that it was obvious the enemy would soon 
take the field, the Commander in Chief, after 
desiring General Putnam to give the officer 
who was to relieve him at Princeton, all the 
information necessary for the conduct of that 
post, appointed that General to the command 
of a separate army in the Highlands of New- 
York. 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 143 

It is scarcely decided, from any documents 
vet published, whether the preposterous plans 
prosecuted by the British Generals in the cam- 
paign of J 777, were altogether the result of 
their orders from home, or whether they part- 
ly originated from the contingences of the mo- 
ment. The system which, at the time, tended 
to puzzle all human conjecture, when devel- 
oped, served also to contradict all reasonable 
calculation. Certain it is, the American Com- 
mander in Chief was, for a considerable time, 
so perplexed with contradictory appearances, 
that he knew not how to distribute his troops, 
with his usual discernment, so as to oppose 
the enemy with equal prospect of success in 
different parts. The gathering tempests me- 
naced the northern frontiers, the posts in the 
Highlands, and the city of Philadelphia; but 
it was still doubtful where the fury of the storm 
would fall. At one time Sir William Howe 
was forcing his way by land to Philadelphia ; 
at another, relinquishing the Jerseys ; at a 
third, facing round to make a sudden inroad ; 
(hen embarking with all the forces that could 
be spared from New-York ; and then putting 
out to sea, at the very moment when General 
Burgoyne had reduced Ticonderoga,and seem- 
ed to require a co-operation in another quar- 
ter. 

On our side, we have seen that the old Con^ 
trnental army expired with the year 1776 ; 
since which, invention had hern tortured with 



144 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

expedients, and zeal with efforts to levy an- 
other; for on the success of the recruiting 
service depended the salvation of the country. 
The success was such as not to puff us up to 
presumption, or depress us to despair. The 
arnij in the Jersejs, under the orders of the 
General in Chief, con&isted ol all the troops 
raised south of the Hudson ; that in the north- 
ern department, of \he New-Hampshise brig- 
ade, two brigades of Massachusetts, and the 
brigade of New-Yovk, together with some ir- 
regular corps ; and that in the Highlands, of 
the remaining two brigades of Massachusetts, 
the Connecticut line, consisting of two brigades, 
the brigade of Rhode-Island, and one regiment 
of New-York. Upon hearing of the loss of 
Ticonderoga, and the progress of the British 
towards Albany, General Washington ordered 
the northern array to be reinforced with the 
two brigades of Massachusetts, then in the 
Highlands; and, upon finding the army under 
his immediate command out-numbered by that 
of Sir William Howe, which had, by the cir- 
cuitous route of the Chesapeak, invaded Penn- 
sylvania, he also called from the Highlands 
one of the Connecticut brigades, and that of 
Rhode-Island to his own assistance. 
i In the neighbourhood of General Putnam 
there was no enemy capable of exciting alarms. 
The army left at New-York seemed only de- 
signed for its defence. In it were several en- 
tire corps, composed of tories, who had flock- 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 145 

ed to the British standard. There was, besides, 
a band of lurking miscreants, not properly en- 
rolled, who staid chiefly at West-Chester; 
from whence thoy infested the country be- 
tween the two armies, pillaged the cattle, and 
carried off the peaceable inhabitants. It was 
an unworthy policy in British generals to 
patronize banditti. The whig inhabitants on 
the edge of our lines, and still lower down, 
who had been plundered in a merciless man- 
ner, delayed not to strip the tories in return. 
People most nearly connected and allied fre- 
quently became most exasperated and invete- 
rate in malice. Then the ties of fellowship 
were broken— then friendship itself beino- 
soured to enmity, the mind readily gave way 
to private revenge, uncontrolled retaliation^ 
and all the deforming passions that diso-race 
himianity. Enormities, almost without a name, 
were perpetrated, at the description of which,- 
the bosom, not frozen to apathy, must glow- 
with a mixture of pity and indignation. To 
prevent the predatory incursions from below, 
and to cover the county of West-Chester, Gen- 
eral Putnam detached from his Head-Quarters, 
at Peeks-Kill, Meigs's reo^iment, which, in the- 
course ot the campaign, struck several parti-- 
zan strokes, and achieved the objects for which' 
it was sent. He likewise took measures, with- 
out noise or ostentation, to secure himself from 
being surprised and carried within the British 
lines by the tories, who had formed a plan tor- 



146 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

the purpose. The Information of this intend- 
ed enterprise, conveyed to him through several 
channels, was corroborated by that obtained 
and transmitted by the Commander in Chief. 

It was not wonderful that many of these to- 
nes were able, undiscovered, to penetrate far 
into the country, and even to go with letters 
or messages from one British army to another. 
The inhabitants who were well affected to the 
royal cause, afforded them every possible sup- 
port, and their own knowledge of the different 
routes gave them a farther facility in perfonn- 
ing their perigrinatlons. Sometimes the most 
active loyalists, as the tories wished to denom- 
inate themselves, who had gone into the Brit- 
ish posts, and received promises of commissions 
upon enlisting a certain number of soldiers, 
came back again secretly with recruiting in- 
structions. Sometimes these, and others who 
came from th© enemy within the verge of our 
camps, were detected and condenmed to death, 
in conformity to the usages of war. But the 
British generals, who had an unlimited supply 
of money at their command, were able to pay 
with so much liberality, that emissaries could 
always be found. Slill, it is thought that the 
intelligence of the American commanders was, 
at least, equally accurate ; notwithstanding the 
poveUy of their military chest, and the mabil- 
ty of rewarding mercenary agents, for secret 
services, in proportion to their risk and merit. 

A person, by the name of Palmer, who was 
a lieutenant in the tory new levies, was de- 



LIFE OF GENE Pi AL PUTNAM. 147 

tected In the camp at Peek's Kill. Governor 
Try on, who commanded the new levies, re- 
claimed him as a British officer, represented 
the heinous crime of condemning a man corn- 
missioned by his Majesty, and threatened ven- 
geance in case he should be executed. Gene- 
ral Putnam wrote the following pithj reply. 

'; Sir, 
" Nathan Palmer, a lleutenantin your King's 
service, v^^as taken in my camp as a Spy — -he 
was tried as a Spy — he was condemned as a 
Spy — and you may rest assured. Sir, he shall 
be hanged as a Spy.'''' 

" I have the honour (o be, &c. 

^' Israel Putnam. 
'"'" His Excellency Governor Tryon. 

"P. S. Afternoon. He is han<red." 

Important transac tions soon occurred. Not 
long after the two brigades had marched from 
Peek's-Kiil to Pennsylvania, a reinforcement 
arrived at New York from Europe. Appear- 
ances indicated that offensive operations would 
follow. General Putnam having been reduc- 
ed in force to t sifmle brigade in tlie field and 
a smofle regiment m garrison at Fort Mmt- 
gomery, repeatedly inforn^ed the Commander 
in Chief, that ihe posts committed to his charge 
must, in all probability, be lost, in case an at- 
tempt should be made upon them -. and that, 
circumstanced as he was, he could not be res- 



148 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

ponslble for the consequences. His situation 
was certainly to be lamented ; but it was not 
in the power of the Commander in Chief to 
alter it, except by authorising him to call upon 
the militia for aid — an aid always precarious, 
and often so tardy, as, when obtained, to be of 
no utility. 

On the fifth of October Sir Henry Clinton 
came up the North-River with three thousand 
men. Atter making many feints to mislead 
the attention, he landed, the next morjiing, at 
Stony-Point, and commenced his march over 
the mountains to Fort Montgomery. Gover- 
nor Clinton, an active, resolute, and intelligent 
officer, who commanded the garrison, upon 
being apprised of the movement, despatched a 
letter, by express, to General Putnam for suc- 
cour. By the treachery ^f the messenger, 
the letter miscarried. General Putnam, as- 
tonished at hearing notliing respecting the 
enemy, rode, with General Parsons, and Col- 
onel Root, his Adjutant-General, to reconnoi- 
tre them at King's Ferry. In the mean-time, 
at five o'clock in the afternoon, Sn* Henry 
Clinton's columns, having surmounted the ob- 
stacles and barriers of nature, descended from 
the Thunder-Hill, througii thickets impassible 
but for light troops, and ^attacked the differ- 

* The author of these Memoirs, then Maior of Brignde to the 
first Connecticut brig^tde, was alone at Heacj-Quartt-rs when the 
firi g ')t'gan. He hastt-Med to Colonel Wyllys the senior officer 
in camp, and ad.iscd iiim to (!esi>atcli al! the men nor on ('utv to 
F'jrt Alontgomerv, without wailing for orders. About fiye hurt 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 149 

ent redoubts. The garrison, inspired by the 
conduct of their leaders, defended the works 
with distinguished valour. But, as the post had 
been designed principally to prevent the pass- 
ing of ships- and as an assauU in rear had not 
been expected, the works on the land side 
were incomplete and untenable. In the dusk 
of twilight, the British ejitered with their bajo- 
nets fixed. Their loss was inconsiderable. 
Nor was that of the garrison great. Gover- 
nor Clinton, his brother General James Clin- 
ton, Colonel Dubois, and most of the officers 
and men eifected their escape under cover of 
the thick smoke and darkness that suddenly 
prevailed. The capture of this fort by Sir 
Henry Clinton, tog-ether w^ith the consequent 
removal of the chains and booms that ob- 
structed the navigation, opened a passage to 

elred men raarcVicd instantly under Colonel Meigs; and the author, 
with Dr. Bearddk'j , a surgeon in llie brigade, rode, at full speed, 
through a bye path, to let the garrison know, tliat a reinforcement 
was on its march. Notwithstanding all the haste these officers 
made to and over tlie river, the fort was so com])letely invested on 
their arrival, that it was impossible to enter. I'hey went on board 
the new frigate wliicli !a) near the fortress, and had the niislbitune 
to bo idle, though not unconcerned syieciators of the storm. They 
saw t .e minutest actir.n?: distinctly when the works were carried. 
'I'he frigate, after receiving several platoons, slipped her cable, 
iind pr^iceeded a little way up the river; hut the wind and tide he- 
eoniiiig adverse., the crew set hjr on fire, to prevent hei- falling in- 
to tMe hands of the enemy, whose ships were a!)proaching. The 
louring darkness of the night, the profound stillm^ss that reigned, 
the interrupted flashes of t'le flames that iiluniinaied the waters, 
thc! l()ng shaditws of the clifls th.jt now and then were se.n, the ex. 
plosiOu >f the cannon which were left loaded in the ship, and the 
revoMherating echo wliicli resounded, at intervals, between the 
atiipi^-uious taonntains on botii sid s of the river, composed an awful 
nighc-pJM e for pcsoMS pr'"pare<) by the preceding scene, to con-' 
tempbic subjects of hon'id sublimity. 



150 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Albany, and seemed to favour a junction of his 
force with that of General Burgoyne. But 
the latter having been compelled to capitulate 
a few days after this event, and great numbers 
of militia having arrived from New-England, 
the successful army returned to New- York ; 
yet not before a detachment from it, under the 
orders of General Vaughan, had burnt fhe 
defenceless town of Esopus, and several scat- 
tering buildings on the banks of the river. 

Notwithstanding the army in the Highlands 
had been so much weakened, for the sake of 
strengthening the armies in other quarters, as 
to have occasioned the loss of Fort Montgom- 
ery, yet that loss was productive of no conse- 
quences. Our main army in Pennsylvania, 
after having contended with superior force in 
two indecisive battles, still held the enemy in 
check; while the splendid success which at- 
tended our arms at the northward, gave a 
more favourable aspect to the American af- 
fairs, at the close of this campaign, than they 
had ever before assumed. 

When the enemy fell back to New- York by 
water, we followed them a part of the way by 
land. Colonel Meigs, with a detachment from 
the several regiments in General Parsons's 
brio-ade, bavins; made a forced march from 
Crompond to West-Chester, surprised and 
brcke up for a time the band of freebooters, 
of whom he brought olT fifty, together with 
many cattle and horses which they had recent- 
ly stolen. 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 151 

Soon after this enterprise General Putnam 
advanced towards the British lines. As he 
had received intelligence that small bodies of 
the enemy were out, with orders from Gov- 
ernor Tryon to burn Wright's mills, he pre- 
vented it by detaching three parties, of one 
hundred men in each. One of these parties 
fell in vrith and captured thirty-five, and an- 
other forty of the new levies. But as he could 
not prevent a third hostile party from burning 
the house of Mr. Van Tassel, a noted whig 
and a committee-man, who was forced to go 
along with them, naked and barefoot, on the 
icy ground, in a freezing night, he, for the pro- 
fessed purpose of retaliation, sent Captain Bu- 
chanan, in a whale-boat, to burn the house of 
General Oliver Delancy on York-Island. Bu- 
chanan eifected his object, and by this expedi- 
tion put a period, for the present, to that un- 
meaning and wanton species of destruction. 

While General Putnam quartered at New- 
Rochel, a scouting party, which had been sent 
to West-Farms, below West-Chester, sur- 
rounded the house in which Colonel James 
Delancy lodged, and, notwithstanding he crept 
under the bed the better to be concealed, 
brought him to Head-Quarters before morn- 
ing. Thig officer was exchanged by the Brit- 
ish General without delay, and placed at the 
head of the cow-boys, a licentious corps of ir- 
regulars, who in the sequel, committed un- 
heard of depredations and excesses. 



152 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

It was distressing to see so beautiful a part 
of the country so barbarously wasted, and of- 
ten to witness some peculiar scene of female 
misery : for most of the female inhabitants 
had been obliged to fly within the lines pos- 
sessed by one army or the other. Near our 
quarters was an affecting instance of human vi- 
cissitude. Mr. William Sutton, of Maroneck, 
an inoffensive man, a merchant by profession, 
who lived in a decent fashion, and whose fam- 
ily had as happy prospects as almost any in 
the country, upun some imputation of toryjsm, 
went to the enemy. His wife, oppressed with 
fifrief in the disao^reeable state of dereliction, 
did not long survive. Betsey Sutton, their 
eldest daughter, was a modest and lovely 
young woman, of about fittcen years old, 
when, at the death of her mother, the care of 
five or six younger children devolved upon 
her. She was discreet and provident beyond 
her years; but when we saw her, she looked 
to be feeble in health — bioken in spiiit — wan, 
melancholy, and dejected. She said '^ that 
their last cow, which furnished milk for the 
children, had lately been taken awiy — that 
they had frequently been plundered of their 
wearing apparel and furniture, she believed 
by both parties — that thej had little more to 
lose — and that she knew not where to procure 
bread for the dear little ones, who had no fa- 
ther to provide for them" — no mother — she 
was going to have said — but a torrent of tears 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 153 

choaked articulation. In coming to that part 
of the country again, after some campaigns 
had elapsed, I found the habitation desolate, 
and the garden overgrown with weeds. Up- 
on inquiry, I learnt, that as soon as we left 
the place, some ruffians broke into the house 
while she lay in bed, in the latter part of the 
night; and thai, having been terrified by their 
rudeness, she ran, half-naked, into a neigh- 
bouring swamp, where she continued until the 
morning — -there the poor girl caught a violent 
cold, which ended in a consumption. It finish- 
ed a life without a spot — and a career of suf- 
ferings commenced and continued without a 
fault. 

Sights of wretchedness always touched with 
commiseration the feelinirs of General Putnam, 
and prompted his generous soul to succour the 
afflicted. But the indulgence which he show- 
ed, whenever it did not militate against his du- 
ty, towards the deserted and suffering families 
of the tories in the State of New-York, was 
the cause of his becoming unpopular with no 
inconsiderable class of people in that State. 
On the other side, he had conceived an uncon- 
querable aversion to many of the persons who 
were entrusted with the disposal of tory-prop- 
erty, because he beheved them to have been 
guilty of peculations and other infamous prac- 
tices. But although the enmity between him 
and the sequestrators was acrimonious as mu- 
tual, yet he lived in habits of amity with the 
14 



154 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

most respectable characters in public depart- 
ments, as well as in private lile. 

His cbaracter was also respected by the en- 
emy. He had been acquainted with many of 
the principal officers in a former war. As 
flags frequently passed between the out-posts, 
durjng his continuance on the lines, it vvas a 
crnnjiion practice to forward newsjapcrs by 
tlum ; and as those printed by Rlvington. tr-.e 
royal printer in JNew-York, were iriiamous for 
the falsehoods with which they abounded, 
General Putnam once sent a pa( ket to his old 
fiifud General Robertson, with this billet: 
" Major-G( nei-al Putnam presents his comjli- 
m^nts to Major-General Robertson, and sends 
bin some American newspapers for his | eiu- 
sal— w^hen Genera! Robertson shall have done 
whh them, it is requested they be given to 
RivingtoD, in order that he may print some 
truth." 

Late in the year we left the lines and re- 
paired to the Highlands ; for upon the loss of 
Fort Montgomery, the Commander in Cliief 
determined to build another fortification for 
the drfence of the river. His Excellency, ac- 
cordingly, wrote to General Putnam to fix up- 
on the spot. After reconnoitering all the dif- 
ferent places proposed, and revolving in his 
own mind their relative advantages for ofi'ence 
on the water and defence on the land, he fix- 
ed upon West-Pojnt. It is no vulgar praise 
to say, that to him belongs the glory of having 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 



155 



chosen this rock of our military salvation. The 
position tor water-batteries, which might sweep 
the chanii**! whure the river formed a riolit 
angle, made it iLe most proper of any tor 
cofninHndifii^ the navigation ; while tiie roeky 
ridg-es that rose in awful sublimity bf:hiud 
e'dcn otner, rendered it impreg-nabk-, and even 
inca./abie of being invested by less than twen- 
ty thousaiid men. The British, who consider- 
ed tiiis post as a sort of American Gibraltar, 
never attempted it but by the tre.^chery of m 
American officer. All the woild ivncws that 
this project failed, and that West-Point con- 
tinues to be the receptacle of every thing val- 
uable in mihiary preparations to the present 
day. 

in the month of January, 1778, when a 
snow, two feet dt^ep, lay on the earth. General 
Parsons's brio-ade went to West- Point and 
broke ground. Want of covering for the 
troops, together with want of tools and mate- 
rials for the works, made the prospect truly 
gloomy and discouraging. It was necessary 
tiiat means should be found, thoupfh our cur- 
rency was depreciated, and our treasury ex- 
hausted. The estimates and requisitions of 
Colonel la Radiere, the engineer who laid out 
the works, altogether disp-opoitioned to oiu' 
circumstances, seived only to put us in mind 
of our poverty, and, as it were, to satirize our 
resources. His petulent behaviour and unac- 
coaimodating disposition added further em- 



156 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

barrassments. It was then that the patriotism 
ot Governor Chnton shone in full lustre. Plis 
exertions to furnish supplies can never be too 
much commended. His influence, aiising from 
his popularity, was unlimited : jet he hesitated 
not to put all his popularity at risk, whenever 
the federal interests demanded. JNotwilh- 
stariding the impediments that opposed our 
progress, witli his aid, before the opening of 
the campaign, the works were in great for- 
Avardness. 

According to a resolution of Congress, an 
inquiry was to be made into the causes of mil- 
itary disasters. Major-General M'Dougall, 
Brigadier-General Huntington, and Colonel 
Wigglesworth composed the Court of Inquiry 
on the loss of Fort Montgomery. Upon full 
knowledge and mature deliberation of facts on 
ihe spot, they reported the loss to have been 
occasioned by want of men, and not by any 
fault in the commanders. 

General Putnam, who during the investiga- 
tion was relieved from duty, as soon as Con- 
gress had approved the report, took command 
of the right wing of the grand army, under the 
orders of the General in Chief. This was 
just after the battle of Monmouth, when the 
three armies which had last year acted sepa- 
rately joined at the White-Plains. Our effec- 
tive force, in one camp, was at no other time 
so respectable as at this juncture. The army 
consisted of sixty regular regiments of loot, 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 157 

formed into fifteen brigades, four battalions of 
artillery, four regiments of horse, and several 
corps of State troops. But as the enemy kept 
close within their lines on York Island, nothing 
could be attempted. Towards the end of au- 
tumn we broke up the camp, and went first to 
Fredericks burgh, and thence to winter-quar- 
ters. 

In order to cover the country adjoining to 
the Sound, and to support the garrison of West- 
Point, in case of an attack, Major-General 
Putnam was stationed for the winter at Read- 
inp-, in Connecticut. He had under his orders 
the brigade of New-Hampshire, the two biig- 
ades of Connecticut, the corps of infantry com- 
manded by Hazen, and that of cavalry 'by 
Sheldon. 

The troops, who had been badly fed, badly 
cloathed, and worse paid, by brooding over 
their grievances in the leisure and inactivity of 
winter-quarters, began to think them intolera- 
ble. The Connecticut brigades formed the. 
design of marching to Hartford, vj^here the 
General Assembly was then in session, and of 
demanding redress at the point of the bayonet,. 
Word having been brought to General Put- 
nam, that the second brigade was under arms 
for this purpose, he mounted his horse, gallop- 
ped to the cantonment, and thus addressed 
them : " My brave lads, whither are you go- 
ing ? Do you intend to desert your officf'rsj 
and to invite the enemy to follow you into the 
14* 



158 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

country ? Whose cause have you been fighting 
ami suffering so long in — is it not your own? 
Have you no property, no parents, wives or 
children ? You have behaved like men so far 
— all the world is full of your praises — and 
posterity will stand astonished at your deeds : 
but not if you spoil all at last. Don't you 
consider how much the country is distressed 
by the war, and that your officers have not 
been any better paid than yourselves ? But 
we all expect better times, and that the coun- 
try will do us ample justice. Let us all stand 
by one another, then, and figiit it out like 
brave soldiers. Think what a shame it would 
be for Connecticut men to run away from their 
officers." After the several regiments had re- 
ceived the General as he rode along the line 
with drums beatings and presented ar7m, the ser- 
geants who had then the command, brought 
the men to an order^ in which position they 
continued while he was speaking. Wijen he 
had done, he directed the acting Major of 
Brigade to give the word for them to shoul- 
der, march to their regimental parades, and 
lodge arms; all which they executed with 
promptitude and apparent good humour. One 
soldier, only, who had been the most active, 
was confined in the quarter-guard ; from 
whence, at night, he attempted to make his 
escape. But the sentinel, who hau also been 
in the mutiny, shot him dead on the spot, and 
#ius the aifair subsided. 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 159 

About tiie middle of winter, while General 
Putnam was on a visit to his out-post at Horse- 
Neck, he found Governor Trjon advancing 
upon that town with a corps ofiifteen hundred 
men. To oppose tliese General Putnam had 
only a picquet of one hundred and iiltj men, 
and two iron tield-pieces, ^without horses or 
drag-ropes. He, however, planted his cannon 
on tiie high ground, bj the meeting-house, 
and retarded their approach by firing several 
times, until, perceiving the horse (supported 
by the infantry) about to charge, he ordered 
the picquet to provide for their safety, by re- 
tiring to a swamp inaccessible to horse, and 
secured his own, by plunging down the steep 
precipice at the church upon a full trot. This 
precipice is so steep., where he descended, as 
to have artihcial stairs, composed of nearly 
one hundred stone steps, for the accommoda- 
tion of foot passengers. There the Dragoons, 
"who were but a sword's length from him, 
stopped short; lor the declivity was so abrupt, 
that they ventured not to follow ; and, betbre 
they could gain the valley, by going round the 
brow of the hill in the ordinary road, he was 
far enough beyond their reach. He continu- 
ed his route, unmolested, to Stanford ; from 
whence, having strengthened his picquet I y 
the junction of some militia, he came back 
again and, in turn, pursued Governor Tryon 
in his retreat.* As he rode down the preci- 

• In tiiis rclrcai, though uilh a very i'.ferinr force, (iineral 
Putnam made about filiy prisoners, part ot whom were wounded, 



160 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

pice, one ball, of the many fired at him, went 
through his beaver : But Governor Trjon, by 
way of compensation for spoihng his hat, sent 
him, soon alterwards, as a present, a complete 
suit of clothes. 

In the campaign of 1779, which terminated 
the career of General Putnam's services, he 
commanded the Maryland line, posted at But- 
ter-Milk falls, about two miles below West- 
Point. He was happy in possessing the friend- 
ship of the officers of that line, and in living on 
terms of hospitality with them. Indeed, there 
was no family in the army that lived better 
than his own. The General, his second son 
Major Daniel Putnam, and the writer of these 
memoirs, composed that family. This cam- 
paign, principally spent in strengthening the 
works of West-Point, was only signalized lor 
the storm of Stony-Point by the light-infantry 
under the conduct of General Wayne, and the 
surprise of the post of Powles-Hook by the 
corps under the command of Colonel Henry 
Lee. When the army quitted the field, and 
marched to Morris-Town, into winter-quarters, 
Gt neral Putnam's family went into Connecti- 
cut for a few weeks. In December the Gene- 
ral b'.gan his journey to Moriis-Town. Up- 
on the road between Pomfret and Hartford, 



and the whole were the next day sent, under the escort of an offi- 
Cti"s j^ujird, to the Biilisi lin« s :->r t.xcr;a< -f. It was for the liu- 
msiiii-y jii.ci kindness of i-'uij .in to t!.<. wouiid'-d piisom rs, that 
CJovernoi* Trjon complimented him with the " suit cl ciothes." 



LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 161 

he felt an unusual torpor slowly pervading his 
right hand and foot. This heaviness crept 
giadually on, until it had deprived him of 
the use of his limbs on that side, in a consid- 
erable degiee, before he reached the house of 
his friend Colonel Wadsvvorth. Still he was 
unwilling to consider his disorder of the para- 
lytic kind, and endeavoured to shake it otf by 
exertion. Having found that impossible, a 
temporary dejection, disguised, however, un- 
der a veil of assumed cheerfulness, succeeded. 
But reason, philosophy, and religion, soon re- 
conciled him to his fate. In that situation he 
has constantly remained, favoured with such 
a portion of bodily activity as enables him to 
walk m\d to ride moderately ; and retaining, 
unimpaired, his relish for enjoyment, his love 
of pleasantry, his strength of memory, and all 
the faculties of his mind. As a proof that 
the powers of memory are not weakened, it 
ought to be observed, that he has lately re- 
peated, from recollection, all the adventures 
of his life, which are here recorded, and which 
had formerly been communicated to the com- 
piler in detached conversations. 

In patient, yet fearless expectation ^( the 
approach of the King of Terrors, whom he 
hath full often faced in the field of blood, the 
Christian hero now enjoys, in domestic retire- 
ment, the fruit of his early industry. Having 
in youth provided a competent subsistence for 
old age, he was secured from the danger of 



162 LIFE OF GENERAL PUTNAM. 

penury and distress, to which so many officers 
and soldiers, worn out in the pubiio seivite, 
have been reduced. To ilhistrate his merits 
the more fully, tliis Essay will be concluded 
with a copy of the last letter wiitlen to him, 
by General Washington, in his military char- 
acter. 



" Head-Quarters, 2d Jvne, 1783. 

" Dear Sir, 

''Your favour of the 20th of May I receiv- 
ed with much pleasure. For I can assure you 
that among the many worthy and meritorious 
officers with whom I have had the happiness 
to be connected in service through the course 
of this war, and from whose cheeriul assistance 
in the various and Uynyg vicissitudes of a 
complicated contest, thf name of a Putnam is 
not forgotten ; nor will be but with that stroke 
of time which shall obliterate from my mind 
the remembiance of all tiiose toiU and fatigues 
through which w^e imve struo:gled for the pie- 
sersation and establishment of the Rights^ 
Liibert!es, and Independence n^ o\a\ Country. 

" Your congratulanons on the happ> pro- 
spects of peace and independent secujity, 
with tfieir attendant blessijios to the United 
States, I receive with great satisfaction ; and 
beg that you will accept a return of my gratu- 
lations to you on this auspicious event — an 



LIFE ^F GENERAL PUTNAM. 163 

event, in which, great as it is in itself, and glo- 
rious as it will probably be in its consequences, 
you have a right to participate largely, from 
the distinguished part you have contributed 
towards its attainment. 

" But while I contemplate the greatness of 
the object for which we hive contended, in J 
felicitate you on tlie happy issue of our toils 
and labours, which have terminated with such 
general satisfaction, I lament tliat you should 
feel the ungrateful retu ns of a country, in 
whose service you have exhausted your bodi- 
ly strength, and expended the vigour of a 
youthful constitution. I wish, however, that 
your expectations of returning liber Jity may 
be veritied. I liave a hope they may — but 
should they not, your ca e will not be a lin- 
gular one. Ingratitude has been experienced in 
all ages^ and Republics, in partcular. have ev- 
er been famed for the exercise of that unnatural 
and SORDID vice. 

" The Secretary at War, who is now 
here, informs me that you have evM*--be(!n 
considered as entitled to full pay since ytfur 
absence from the field, and that you will still 
be co[isidered in that liglit until the close of 
the war; at which period you will be equally 
entitled to the same emoluments of half-pay 
or commutation as other officers of your rank. 
The same opinion is also given by the Pay- 
Master-Gene ral, w^ho is now with tl:e arjny, 
empowered by Air. iMorris for the settlement 



164 LIFE OF GENERAL PU'J'NAM. 

of all their accounts, and who will attend to 
your's whenever jou shall think proper to 
send on lor the purpose, which it will proba- 
bly be best for jou to do in a short time. 

" I anticipate, with pleasure, the day, and 
that, 1 trust, not far oft when I shall quit the 
busy scenes of a mihtary employment, and re- 
tire to the more tranquil walks of domestic 
life. In that?, or whatever other situation 
Providence may dispose of my future days, 

THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE MANY FRIENDSHIPS 
AND CONNECTIONS I HAVE HAD THE HAPPINESS 
TO CONTRACT WITH THE GENTLEMEN OF THE 
ARMY, WILL BE ONE OF MY MOST GRATEFUL 

REFLECTIONS. Under this contemplation^ and 
impressed ivith the sentiments of benevolence ond 
regard^ I commend you^ my dear Sir^ my other 
friends^ and with them^ the interests and happi- 
ness of our dear country, to the keeping and 

PROTECTION OF AlMIGHTY GoD. 

" I have the honour to be, &c. 

"George Washington. 



•' To the Honourable 

" Major-General Putnam." 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 165 

The remainder of the life of General Put- 
nam was passed in quiet retirement with his 
family. He experienced few interruptions in 
his bodily health, (except the paralytic debili- 
ty with which he was afflicted) retained full 
possession of his mental faculties, and en- 
joyed the society of his friends until the 17th 
of May, 1790, when he was violently attack- 
ed with an inflammatory disease. Satisfied 
from the first that it would prove mortal, he 
was calm and resigned, and welcomed the ap- 
proach of death with joy, as a messenger sent 
to call him from a life of toil to everlasting rest. 
On the 19th of May, 1790, he ended a life 
which had been spent in cultivating and de- 
fending the soil of his birth. 

Much of his life had been spent in arms, 
and the military of the neighbourhood were 
desirous that the rites of sepulture should be 
accompanied with martial honours : they felt 
that this last tribute of respect was due to a 
soldier, who, from a patriotic love of country, 
had devoted the best part of his life to the de- 
fence of her rights, and the establishment of 
her independence — and who, through long 
and trying services, was never once reproach- 
ed for misconduct as an officer; but when 
disease compelled him to retire from service, 
left it, beloved and respected by the army and 
his chief, and with high claims to the grateful 
remembrance of his country. 
15 



166 LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 

Under these impressions, the grenadiers of 
the 11th regiment, the independent corps of 
artillerists, and the mihtia companies in the 
neighbourhood, assembled each at their ap- 
pointed rendezvous, early on the morning of 
the 21st, and having repaired to the late 
dwelling house of the deceased, a suitable es- 
cort was formed, attended by a procession of 
the Masonic brethren present, and a large 
concourse of respectable citizens, which moved 
to the Congregational meeting house in Brook- 
lyn; and, after divine service performed by the 
Kev. Dr. Whitney, all that was earthly of a 
patriot and hero was laid in the silent tomb, 
under the discharge of vollies from the infan- 
try, and minute guns from the artillery. 



LIFE OP GENERAL PUTNAM. 167 



The folloiving eulogtium was pronounced at the 
grave of General Putnam % Dr, A, Waldo, 

" Those venerable relics ! once delighted 
in the endearing domestic virtues, which con- 
stitute the excellent neighbour — husband — 
parent — and worthy brother ! liberal and sub- 
stantial in his friendship; — unsuspicious — open 
— and generous; — just and sincere in dealing; 
a benevolent citizen of the world — He concen- 
trated in his bosom, the noble qualities of an 
Honest Man. 

" Born a hero — whom nature taught and 
cherished in the lap of innumerable toils and 
dangers, he was terrible in battle ! But, from 
the amia bier ess of his heart — when carnage 
ceased, his humanity spread over the ^e/t?, like 
the refreshing zephyrs of a summer's evening ! 
— The prisoner — the wounded — the sick — the 
forlorn — experienced the delicate sympathy of 
this Soldier's Pillar — The poor, and the 
needy, of every description, received the char- 
itable bounties oithis Christian Soldier. 

" He pitied littleness — loved goodness — ad- 
mired greatness, and ever aspired to its glo- 
rious summit ! The friend, the servant, and 
almost unparalleled lover of his country; — 
worn with honourable age, and the former 
toils of war — Putnam ! ' Rests from his la* 
hours.' 



16i5 LIFE OP GENERAL I>UTNAM. 

" Till mouldering worlds and tumblino; systems burst I 
When the last trump sliall renovate his dust- 
Still by the maiidat«^ of eternal truth, 
His soul will * iiourish in immortal youth !' " 

" TLls all who knew him know; — this all 
who lov''d hiiB, tell." 



The late Rev. Dr, Divight, President of Tale Colleget 
WHO knew General Putnam hitimati'lify has 'portray- 
ed his ciiaracter faitiifuiiij in the following inscrip- 
tion, wnich is engraven on his tomb* 

Sacred be this Monument 

to the memory 

of 

ISR\EL PjTNAM, EsqUIRE, 

. ~ senior Major General in the armies 

of 

the United States of America; 

who 

was born at Salem, 

in the Province of Massachusetts, 

on the rtii day of January, 

A. D. in 8, 

and died 

on the 19th day of May, 

A. D. 1790. 

Passenger, 

if thou art a Soldier, 

di'op a tear over the dust of a Hero 

who, 

ever attentive 

iothe lives and happiness of his mei^^ 

dared to lead 

where any dared to follow ; 

if a Patriot, 

remember the distinguis'jed and gallant services 

rendered thy country 

by the Patriot who sleeps beneath this marble > 

if thou art honest, generous and worthy, 

render a cheerful tribute of respect 

to a man, 

whose generosity was singular, 

whose honesty was proverbial; 

who 

raised himself to universal esteem, 

and offices of eminent distinction, 

by pe* sonal worth 

and a 

Hseful life. 



APPENDIX. 



VVVVVVVV^A/VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV^-VVVVVV%;VV%'VVVX/V^VVVVVXiVVVVVVV-vSl 



HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL 



SKETCH 



OF 



li\IJ<K.Ell Hllili TSa.TTl.;E 



IBy S. Svfett. 



^.VVV-VVVVVVA'^.VVVVVVVVVVVViVVAiVVV'VVVVVVVVVVVX'VVVVVVW-VVVVXVVVVWV 



DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT. 

District Clerk's Office. 

Be it remembered, that on the ninth day of September, 
A. D 1818, and in the forty -third year of the Independence of the 
United States of America, Samuel Swett of the said district has 
de[)Osited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he 
claims as author, in the words following, to wit : 

Historical and topographical Sketch of Bunker Hill Battle, with 
a Plan. By S. Swetti 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, 
entitled, " An Act for the encouragement of learning by securing 
the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprie- 
tors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned : and also 
to an Act entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entiiled, 
An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies 
of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprie'"ors of such 
copies, during the times therein mentioned ; and extending the 
benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching his- 
torical and other pvints." 

JOHN W. DAVIS, 
Clerk of the District of Massachusettsf 



The writer of the following has no ambi- 
tion or pretensions to be an author, but from 
his attention to military subjects, consented to 
describe a battle, one of the most glorious and 
important ever fought in America, and to ren- 
der his feeble contribution to the monument 
of fame which history yet owes our ancestors. 
The materials lay scattered among newspa- 
pers, magazines, records and files of Congress, 
the scattered surviving veterans of the day, 
and others. He was compelled by circum- 
stances to commence his researches in July, and 
finish his sketch in August ; but he remind- 
ed himself that our fathers fought for us in the 
same oppressive season, and spared no effort 
to render the work complete. Not a single 
fact Is stated of which he has not the most sat- 
isfactory evidence. That the public however 
may judge for themselves, he has deposited 
his documents and proofs for their use at the 
Boston Athaeneum. 



PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 



Ward, Pomeroy, Thomas, Heath and 
Whitcomb were appointed by the Provincial 
Congress of Massachusetts general officers 
over the militia. These troops having de- 
feated the British at Lexino^ton, and driven 
them into Boston, could no longer be retained 
in quarters. 

But five days after the battle. General 
Ward writes Congress that unless enlisting 
orders be immediately furnished him, he shall 
be left entirely alone. The day before- how- 
ever, that body resolved, that an army of 
thirty thousand was necessary, that Mas- 
sachusetts would raise thirteen thousand six 
hundred, and thtU the other New England 
Stales should have notice given them, and 
be requested to furnish their respective 
proportions But tiie battle of Lexington was 
a beacon fire to the neighbouring states. The 
ha I dy yeomen, whom rage supplied with 
arms, did not wait to be summoned by the 
|6 



178 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

tardy process of legislation ; they seized their 
hunting pieces, and flew to join their brethren 
at the scene of danger. 

The Committee of Safety, elected anew by 
Congress at every session, were the real 
executive of Massachusetts. The members 
were now John Hancock and Benjamin 
Greenleaf, who never took their seats, John 
Pigeon and Enoch Freeman, seldom present, 
and Joseph Warren, chairman, Benjamin 
Church, Benjamin White, Joseph Palmer, 
Abraham Watson, Samuel Holten, AzorOrne, 
Nathan Cushing and Richard Devens. They 
were empowered generally to watch over the 
safety of the commonwealth, and advise Con- 
gress of such measures as they thought bene- 
ficial, and expressly commissioned : 

" To assemble such and so many of the 
*' Militia and them to dispose and place where 
" and detain so long as said Committee shall 
•'judge necessary, and discharge said Militia 
" when the safety of the Colony will admit. 
" And the officers of the said Militia are en- 
"joyned to obey the orders and directions of 
" said Committee of Safety. And also to direct 
" the army of this Colony to be stationed where 
"said Committee of Safety shall judge most 
" conducive to the defence and service of this 
" Colony, and the general and other officers of 
" the army are requested to render strict obe- 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 179 

" dience to such orders of said Committee ; but 
" Coni^ress have power to control any oider of 
" the Committee of Safety. Also to nominate 
" persons to Congress to be commissioned offi- 
" cers in the army and to give enlisting orders 
" to such persons as they think proper. And 
" if any otficers be ready to be commissioned 
"agreeable to the resolve of this Congress 
"during the recess of the same the Committee 
" shall till up and deliver to them commissions 
" to be furnished said Committee in blank for 
" that purpose." 

This committee distributed beating or en- 
listing orders throughout the state to those 
w^honi they thought qualified to raise recruits. 
Tlie number of a company was reduced from 
one hundred to fifty-nine ; and he who could 
enlist this number was entitled to a captain's 
commission, and one who procured ten cap- 
tains with companies to serve under him com- 
manded the rejriment. The Conj^ress of Mas- 
sachusetts issued an eloquent address to the 
people, which would do honor to any legisla- 
ture on earth. The recruits came In with 
spirit, and by the middle of June the New 
England army of citizen soldiers enlisted for 
a few months amounted to about fifteen thou- 
sand troops. 

About ten thousand of these were of Mas- 
sachusetts; animated with the same love of 



1 80 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

liberty which inspired the whole, they were 
iDost confident in the rectitude of their cause, 
in which they were thoioughly instructed by 
James Otis, who led the foi lorn hop»^ of the 
revolution, John Adams, Quincy, Hancock, 
Samuel Adams, and otl^er enlightened pa- 
triots. And they were fighting battles more 
peculiarly their own, in defence of their wives, 
children and homes. But the more anio}ating 
consideration to them as soldiers, was the 
chivalrous reputation of their ancestors and 
themselves, who bad been in constant battle 
and constant victory against their formidable 
savage foe, and had more recently proved at 
Nova Scotia and Louisbourgh that they were 
equally formidable against the civilized troops 
of Europe. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 181 






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BUNKER HILL BATTLE. l83 

The regiment of artillery was organized 
under Colonel Richard Gridley, Lieutenant 
Colonel William Burbeck, Majors David Ma- 
son and Scarborough Gridley, and ten cap- 
tains, with one six, two brass four, and six 
iron three pound cannon. 

Rhode Island had sent a regiment to Mas- 
sachusetts imbued with the determined spirit 
of civil and religious liberty, which the founder 
of their state mamtained through every peril. 
Colonel Green* was their commander, one of 
the most promising beioes of the revolution. 
The elements of a soldier were so mixed in 
him, that the wise already foresaw his elevat- 
ed rank among w^arriors the most distinguish- 
ed. Under him were Lieutenant Colonel 01 ny 
and Major Boxan, experienced English sol- 
diers. Tw^o field pieces were attached to the 
corps. 

The hardy yeomanry of New Hampshire, 
beneath whose ponderous strokes the formid- 
able forests and the savages who inhabited 
them had been levelled with the ground, who 
had been used to little control but what the 
God ot Nature imposed, were moved with in- 
dignation at approaching tyranny. They 
flocked as volunteers to the neighbourhood of 

* The accomplished scliolar, Jiidi^e Johnson, is about 
gj-eseating the public a biography of this hero. 



184 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Boston, and chose Colonel Stark, Lieutenant 
Colonel VVyman and Major M'Ciary their 
leaders. 

Their colonel was worthy "to command this 
formidable band ; he had been a distinguished 
captain of Provincial Rangers received into 
the service of the crown, was at Quebec 
under General Wolfe, and enjoyed half pay 
as a British officer, an offering he made with 
other sacrifices for the good of his country. 

Their major also was a favourite officer. 
Six feet and a half in height, with a Hercu- 
lean form in perfect proportions, a voice like 
Stentorand strength of Ajax ; ever unequalled 
In athletic exercises, and unsubdued in single 
combat, whole bodies of men had been over- 
come by him, and he seemed totally uncon- 
scious that he was not equally unconquerable 
at the cannon's mouth. His mind and char- 
acter were of the same grand and energetic 
cast with his person; and though deficient in 
the advantages of finished education, he had 
been a member of the state legislature, and 
his mercantile concerns were extensive. 

These troops were followed by another 
regiment from New Hampshire, which arrived 
on the fifteenth of June, under Colonel Reed, 
Lieutenant Colonel Oilman and Major Hale^ 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 185 

Connecticut, essentially and undevlatingly 
republican, was behind none of the pruvimes 
in her determined hostility to the usurpation 
and encroachments of the throne. To her 
antipathy to royally the proscribed judges of 
Charles the first had owed their inviolable 
asylum in her territory. Religious as well as 
civil liberty was in jeopardy, and tlie former 
with her was paramount to all earthly con- 
siderations. In her vocabulary the British 
troops were the Philistines, and Putnam, the 
American Samson, a chosen instrument to de- 
feat the foe ; and fortunately she inspired her 
own confidence into all her sister states. 

With their usual sagacity however these 
troops, notwithstanding a confident reliance 
on supernatural aid, did not neglect all human 
means to secure it. Their state government, 
coubtitution, and establishments continued un- 
changed. Their troops were better armed, 
better disciplined and provisioned than any 
troops in tlie New England army. 

On the first news of the battle of Lexing- 
ton, Putnam mounted his hoise, rode in a 
single day one hundred miies, arrived at 
Carabrid^re. and attended a council of war on 
the 2 ist of April, when the paiole was Put- 
nam.* His troops soon followed him. Slorrs 

* Orderly Book. 



186 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

was lieutenant colonel, and Durkee, who 
had served with him through the whole war 
of ]756, with distinguished reputation, was 
major of his regiment. Brigadier General 
Spencer, Lieutenant Colonel Willis and Major 
Majo,Colonei VVaterbury and Colonel Parsons 
cane also with the Connecticut troops, in all 
about three thousand. Captain Coit next to 
M'Clary in stature and intrepidity commanded 
an independent company of hardy New 
London tars, and Chester another indepen- 
dent, company from Weathersfield, the elite 
corps of the army. As such it was selected to 
escort General Putnam and Joseph Warren, 
the President of Congress, to Charlestown, 
on the exchange of prisoners with the British. 

The scene of their meeting was hallowed 
hj the flag of truce which v/aved over it,^ 
and was sacred to the rites of hospitality and 
friendship. The officers on both sides were 
personal friends, though arrayed against each 
other in public hostility. Between Putnam 
and tiie British officers, especially, these* ties 
had been cemented by the mutual perils and 
intimate associations of the camp, during the 
long war of 1756, and their present opposition 
served only to make their affection glow with 
a more sjeniai warmth. These ru2:.^ed sons 
of Mars, from the impulse of feeling, rushed 

■■' Newspapers and oral testimony. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 187 

into each others arms. Bravery proved its 
natural alliance with the finest feelings of the 
human heart. The fell spirit of civil war was 
softened. 

The whole army was under the command 
of Artemas Ward, commissioned by the Pro- 
vincial Congress, on the 2ist of May, general 
and commander in chief of the Massachusetts 
forces. His general orders were copied and 
obeyed by the forces of all the other prov- 
inces in Massachusetts, indiscriminately, and 
the officers of all of them were ordered on 
courts martial, and detailed for the usual rou- 
tine of duty without any distinction whatever.* 
Congress also resolved, on the 23d of May, 
that a lieutenant general, two major gene- 
rals, four brigadier generals, two adjutant 
and two quarter master generals should be 
appointed. 

General Ward was a gentleman of liberal 
education, vigorous understanding and distin- 
guished probity. He had been a member of 
the council, speaker of the assembly, and 
chief justice of one of the courts in Massa- 
chusetts. He professed the rigid tenets of 
New England religion, and his rank and char- 
acter commanded an extensive influence in 
the country. ^He had also served with reputa- 

* Orderly Books. 



188 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

tlon in the war of 1756, was a lieutenant col- 
onel at the storming of Ticonderoga, under 
General \bercrombie, and soon after com- 
manded the regiment. He had also been a 
colonel in the militia, an office from which 
Governor Hutchinson relieved him on account 
of his being too true a patriot. 

General Thomas received the appointment 
of lieutenant general which he accepted on 
the 27th of May. His superior talents, culti- 
vated by a liberal education, his gallantry, 
activity and vig;ilance as a soldier, purity as a 
patriot, and honor as a man commanded the 
entire confidence of all who knew him. He 
had served in the former war with reputation, 
and had already distinguished himself in tliis. 
Being in command at Roxbury with a feeble 
force. General Gage had determined to drive 
him from that important post. But his vigi- 
lance detected the design, and by a ruse de 
guerre he defeated it. 

On the day fixed for the attack, all his 
troops were paraded, marching them roi nd 
the hill on which he was encamped, in view 
of Boston, and returning those in front by a 
short rout again to the rear, tl.ey wore the 
appearance of a long column ol troops. Being 
without unifotm the deception was perfect, 
and General Gage, alarme(l with the show of 
force, relinquished the enterpiise. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 189 

The veteran General Pomeroy of North- 
ampton continued with the new levied troops 
under his old commission, not having jet re- 
ceived a new appointment, and assisted in or- 
ganizing- ihe armj. He was a hardj, intrepid, 
adventurous soldier, a keen and celebrated 
hunter, an honest, open hearted man. He 
had acquired a distinguished reputation in the 
war of 1 756, when military fame was the re- 
ward of individual prowess and private enter- 
prise, and left the service a laurelled captain 
of Provincials. He commanded a company 
under Sir William Johnson in the celebrated 
engagement when the French and Indians, 
under the Baron Dieskau, were defeated. To 
our captain the honor of having slain the 
baron was aw^arded over rival claims, and the 
baron's watch was bestowed on him as a 
trophy to be transmitted with his fame to 
posterity,"* He was in fact the natural mili- 
tary chieftain of his neighbourhood, and may 
well be styled the Putnam of Connecticut 
River. 

General Whitcomb bore a close resem- 
blance in his history and character to General 
Pomeroy. He appeared with the militia at 
Lexington battle, but was too advanced in 
years for active service. He received the ap- 

'^ It is yet retained in his family. 
17 



190 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

pointment of major general in the new army 
on the 12th of June. 

On the 14tli of June, Joseph Warren was 
elected a major general ot Massachusetts. 
In his character the heroism of antiquity com- 
bined with the romantic cliivalry of the middle 
ages. An accompHshed scholar : gifted with 
gxnius the most distinguished, his mind was 
stored with the treasures of classic erudition. 
As an orator a model; elegant and impres- 
sive, ardent and irresistible ; twice selected to 
address his fellow citizens, the thunder of his 
eloquence severed the adamantine chain by 
which nature bound them to the mother 
country. As a patriot, pure and without re- 
proach, his favorite maxim was " Dclce et 
decorum est pro patria mori," and from pre- 
sentiment he foresaw that this motto would 
one day be recorded in the life's blood of a 
heart as noble as ever panted after immor- 
tality. A physician the most eminent, his 
superb character soared far beyond the nar- 
row limits of his profession. In person hand- 
some, in manners elegant and accomplished, 
he was the favorite of the drawing room, and 
qualified to shine in the highest circles of 
fashion. But the cause of liberty, of his coun- 
try and mankind summoned him to a destiny 
by far more exalted Chairman of the Com- 
mittee of Safety, and President of the Provin- 
cial Congress, he remembered that in the 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. f9l 

simplicity of ancient republics, legislators the 
most distinguished were also warriors the 
most devoted. He accompanied General Put- 
nam as a volunteer to one of the islands, 
where in a warm engagement the enemy were 
d( feated and a vessel destroyed ; and his head 
had been grazed by a ball from the enemy at 
the battle of Lexington. 

General Ward's quarters were at Cam- 
bridge, with about eight thousand Massachu- 
setts troops, and one thousand from Connecti- 
cut. The latter, with Sargent's Massachusetts 
regiment, were under the immediate command 
of General Putnam, in a central and advanced 
position near Inman's farm, where the enemy 
landed previous to the battle of Lexington. 
Here some slight breastworks were thrown 
up. Another slight work was erected near 
the Charlestown road, a mile and a half from 
Cambridge, where Colonel Patterson's regi- 
ment v/as stationed. 

Four companies of artillery with, and one 
without field pieces, were also at Cambridge. 

At Roxbury, Lieutenant General Thomas 
commanded about two thousand Massachu- 
setts, two thousand Connecticut and one thou- 
sand Rhode Island troops, including an artil? 
lery company with field pieces. These com^ 
posed the right wing of the army. 



192 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

At Medford about one thousand New 
Hampshire troops under Colonels Stark and 
Reed, formed the left wing of the armj. 

These troops were hardy, brave, active, 
athletic and indefatigable. Almost every sol- 
dier equalled William Tell as a marksman, 
and would aim his weapon at an oppressor 
with as keen a rehsh. Those from the fron- 
tier had gained this address against the sava- 
ges and beasts of the forest. The country 
yet abounded with game, and hunting was 
familiar to all ; and the amusement the most 
fashionable and universal throughout New 
England, was trials of skill with the musket. 

These troops. were also religious, and their 
respect for the opinions of the clergy was 
unbounded. But the religion of their clergy 
was republican in its nature; they had the 
most lively antipathy to church establishments, 
and dread of royal oppression. To avoid the 
expense of chaplains to the army, the clergy 
in the neighbourhood of the camp were in- 
vited by Congress to perform divine service, 
thirteen of them, every Sabbath; a duty they 
discharged with zeal and punctuality. 

The confidence of the army in their officers 
was as complete, as it appears from the char- 
acters of those described to have been richly 
merited. But beside these superior officers,, 



BITNKER HILL BATTLE. 193 

many of the field and commissioned officers 
and privates had served in the army in the 
war of 1745 or of 1756, and had there reaped 
well deserved laurels. 

Their confidence was at present elevated 
to an excess by the recent and astonishing 
conquests which their arms had accomplished. 
Beside the victory at Lexington, and success- 
ful skirmishes in the neighbourhood of Boston, 
they had just learned, that Arnold, who had 
received a colonel's commission and troops 
from the Committee of Safety of Massachu- 
«5etts, had, in alliance with other New England 
forces, achieved the important acquisition of 
Crown Point and Ticonderoga. These troops 
were also sensible that they were fighting in 
their own cause, and were exalted into heroes 
by a glorious, enthusiastic love of liberty, a 
maddening, indignant sense of- oppression. 
This indignation burned with new fury from 
a recent proclamation of Governor Gage, de- 
nouncing them all as rebels, and especially the 
proscribed patriots, Hancock and Adams, their 
abettors, adherents and associates; 

Excepting these characteristics, howeverj 
they were deficient in almost every important 
requisite of an army. They were wretchedly 
defective in arms, and the bayonet was al- 
most universally wanting. They were entnely 
strangers to discipline and almost to subordi'^ 

17,^^ 



194 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

nation. They were nominally organized info 
regiments, but these were deficient in num- 
bers, many of them only skeletons, and their 
respective ranks were not ascertained. Some 
of these troops were yet serving as minute 
men, and a number of regiments had not re- 
ceived their commissions. Tents were not 
provided. The commissariat and quarter- 
master's department and staff w^ere yet unor- 
ganized. The several towns sent provisions 
to their troops with profusion, but with ir- 
regularity and waste. 

Colonel Gridley was appointed chief, and 
William Burbeck second engineer, but the 
latter was attached to the ordnance depart- 
ment, and Colonel Gridley had no engineers 
under him. It was impossible for him to sup- 
ply this defect, and he was himself almost 
too advanced in years for service. But if 
military science, skill and experience could 
have overcome these difficulties, there Avas 
not an officer in America more capable of 
accomplishing it than Colonel Gridley. 

Richard Gridley, brother of J. Gridley, in 
his day " the giant of the law," was born in 
Boston, 1711. Uncommon genius, improved 
by superior education, prepared him for an 
elevated standing. Most apt and learned in 
every branch of mathematics, of romantic 
honor, chivalrous ambition, and adventurous 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 195 

bravery, nature made him a soldier; and it 
was found impossible for art to make liim a 
merchant. The attempt was rehnquished, 
and, like the two principal heroes of the 
American revolution, Washington and Greene, 
he employed himself as a practical surveyor 
and civil engineer. 

After the decease of his brother who held 
the office he was elected Grand Master of the 
fraternity of Masons. 

Military science he studied with enthusiasm 
and acquired with facihty, and in 1745 he 
commenced his military career. 

Massachusetts raised an army of three 
thousand two hundred men, New Hampshire 
added three and Connecticut five hundred, to 
conquer the Island of Cape Breton. In this 
army he received the appointment of engineer 
and commander of the artillery. Under the 
instruction of Bastide, a most distinguished 
engineer, he became at once an adept in his 
profession, and acquired like Archimedes dis- 
tinguished celebrity in the war of sieges. 
With scientific accuracy he pointed the mortar 
which on the third fire threw a bomb into the 
citadel, one grand cause of the subsequent 
surrender of Louisbourg and conquest of 
Gape Breton> 



196 BUNKER filLL BATTLE. 

He was rewarded by a captaincy in Gov- 
ernor Shirley's American regiment on the 
British establishment. The peace left him 
on half pay, and in 1752 he attended the 
governor to the Kennebeck, and erected forts 
Western and Halifax. 

In 1755 he again entered the service as. 
chief engineer and colonel of infantry. In 1756 
he was commander of the provincial artille- 
ry under General Winslow in the expedition 
against Crown Point, and proceeded to Lake 
George, where he erected fortifications. In 
1757 he sailed for Halifax intended for Lou- 
isbourg, but the expedition was arrested by 
the French fleet. In 1758 he revisited his 
earliest field of glory, and was at the second 
taking* of Louisbourg: under General Am- 
herst. He had the superintendance of the 
ordnance stores, and was so distinguished in 
the siege, as were all the New England 
troops, that the general tendered him the 
whole valuable furniture of the governor's 
house, a present which he with chivalrous 
delicacy declined. 

In 1759 General Amherst conferred on him 
the distinguished honor of commanding the 
artillery under the immortal Wolfe at the 
siege of Quebec. 



BlfNKER HILL BATTLE. 197 

General Amherst found it impossible to 
join the expedition against Quebec as he in- 
tended ; notwithstanding which the audacious 
commander, seconded by the heroic Gridlej 
and his other officers, determined to achieve 
the conquest alone. He landed his army in 
the night under the heights of Abraham, 
mounted the precipice, and won the glorious 
battle, in which Gridley proved himself wor- 
thy to fight by his side. 

His country acknowledged his services and 
rewarded them. The Magdalen islands with 
an extensive seal and cod fishery, and half pay 
as a British officer, w^ere conferred on him. 

At the commencement of the American re- 
volution his British agent, by order of govern- 
ment, enquired to what party he devoted his 
services. His magnanimous answer was, *^ he 
" never drew his sword but in the cause of jus- 
*• tice, and such he considered to be his coun- 
*• try's." His half pay ceased, and the arrears 
already due he had too much spirit to receive. 

The British army in Boston, at the time of 
Lexington battle, were about four thousand 
troops under General Gage, the governor of 
Massachusetts. He had served with eclat 
both in America and Europe, had married an 
American lady, was popular in the country, 
and disposed to moderate expedients, until he 



198 BUNKER HltL BATTLE. 

sacrificed his own judgment to the advice of 
violent partizans. 

By the last of May large reinforcements ar- 
rived, and the whole consisted of the followino: 
regiments ; the fourth, fifth, tenth, fourteenth, 
three companies of the eigliteenth, twenty 
third, thirty fifth, ^hirtj eighth, forty third, 
forty seventh, Miy second, fifty ninth, sixty 
third, two companies of the sixty fifth, and 
the sixty seventh. These amounted to about 
ten thousand troops under Generals Gage, 
Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, Pigot, Grant and 
Robinson, Lords Percy and Rawdon, Colonels 
Abercrombie, Williams and others, the most 
distinguished officers and choicest troops of 
the British empire. 

The fifty second, the royal Irish and the 
twenty third or Welsh fusileers, had been the 
most signalized. This last was the Prince of 
Wales regiment in elegant uniform with a 
strong national spirit and esprit de corps."^ 
There was also a squadron of cavalry, for 
whose use a house of God was unwisely and 
sacrilegiously assumed. 



'■ From a tradition that a former Prince of Wales had 
ridden from his principality into England on a goat ; a 
very large one, witli gilded horns, was always maintain- 
ed by the corps, and they celebrated the anniversary of 
the feat by a procession, rejoicing and exultation. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 199 

The light infantry of the regiments were 
encamped on the heights of West Boston, 
facing Cambridge ; a very strong battery for 
cannon and mortars was erected on Copps 
HilL facing Charlestown, and very strong 
lines and batteries were formed across the 
neck on the side of Roxbnry, 

The British were equally sanguine, and as 
confident of success as their enemy, for whom, 
as soldiers, they entertained a sovereign con- 
tempt. This opinion was nourished by their 
officers who had served with those of the Pro- 
vincials, when they were degraded below the 
British officers of similar commissions, and the 
generals w^ere allowed no rank with those of 
the mother country. They were confirmed 
in the same opinion from the ordinary arms 
and the uncouth dress of the American troops, 
which they had worn unchanged from the 
plough or the workshop, and the want of dis- 
cipline and subordination which signalized 
their camp. 

They were also enthusiastic admirers of 
their government and constitution. They 
held the king and parliament in religious vene- 
ration, and considered them as omnipotent on 
earth as Deity in heaven. They looked up- 
on the Americans as foul, ungrateful and un- 
natural rebels, and burned with indignation to 
inflict on them exemplary punishment. 



200 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Their narrow quarters galled their pride ; 
Burgojne declared they would' have elbow 
room, and General Gage proclaimed his mor- 
tification " that the Americans affected to 
hold the British army besieged." Notwith- 
standing the superior and increasing numbers 
of the foe, they determined to leave the town, 
and take Charlestown and Dorchester heights. 
The busy preparation had commenced to 
possess themselves of the latter on the eight- 
eenth day of June, but the Americans before 
that provided other occupation for their arms. 

The Americans were impatient to be led 
against the enemy. They were unable to 
appreciate the necessity of discipline, or to 
understand the unorganized situation of every 
department of the army; but the hardships 
and expense of service they sorely realized. 
Many of the officers were favourable to the 
wishes of the men. They had been used to 
the loose service of rangers, and could not 
weigh the requisitions of a regular army. 

General Putnam, Colonel Prescott, and 
other veterans, demanded that advantage 
should be taken of this disposition of the men, 
and their wishes gratified. The utility of the 
frequent and successful skirmises they had jil- 
reaay engaged in was immense. They prom- 
ised themselves still higher advantage from an 
affair more important, but short of a general 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 201 

engagement. They knew that, could the en- 
emy be induced to engage a formidable de- 
tachment, their inferiority with the musket 
would make them deeply rue any advantage 
they might gain, while it would convert our 
army into soldiers; and these beneficial re- 
sults would be doubled, could the Americans 
be covered by entrenchments. Putnam, to 
show his correct estimation of his countrymen, 
as raw troops, advanced his favorite maxim, 
•• the Americans are not at all afraid of their 
•• heads, though very much afraid of their 
"legs; if you cover these they w'ill light for- 
" ever." Before the Council of War, in con- 
tinual session, these arguments were under 
consideration. 

The same momentous question had been de- 
bated in the Commitiee of Safety. They re- 
ceived information, from their secret emis^^aries, 
that the enemy intended to advance into the 
country, and possess themselves of the very 
commanding heights of Charlestovvn and 
Dorchester. Tiie necessity of anticipating 
them in a project so fatal to America was 
mo^t solemnly urged for the purpose of pre- 
venting their advance into the country, des- 
troying their shipping, and making the town 
itself too hot for them. 

But this course was opposed by formidable, 
and almost insuperable difficulties. The ar- 
18 



202 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

my seemed called on to maintain a rigid de- 
fence till they were better disciplined and 
prepared for battle; and what was of vastly 
more w^eight, they had not gunpowder. 
There were eleven barrels only in the public 
depots, and but sixt) seven in Massachusetts. 
TThese heights completely overlooked the 
town, and it was impossible for the enemy to 
suffer the Americans to keep them without 
the most desperate efforts, and a general en- 
gagement. This and the cannonade we should 
be necessitated to support, to answer that of 
the enemy, (for if omitted it would betray our 
secret impotency as to powder) were entirely 
beyond our means. General Pomeroy, how- 
ever, took council of his courage, and with 
unbounded confidence in the skill of his coun- 
trymen " would fight the enemy with but hve 
" cartridges a piece. He himself was practised 
"in hunting, and always brought home two, 
"and sometimes three deer, with but tliree 
" charges of powder. But the men had gen- 
" erally supplied themselves with powder as 
" militia, and the public could easily make good 
" the deficiency." 

General Putnam, to encourage discipline 
and ^emulation, and brave the enemy, maichtd 
in face of them with all the troops from Cam- 
bridge to Chariestown. about the iOth dav of 
June. And about the same time, to support 
liie policy of engaging the enemy in an aiiair, 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 205 

he attentively reconnolfred the country with 
other olficers. A position perfectly suited to 
their purpose, and which does iiiimortal honor 
to their coup d'ceil and military skill, they 
found in the fields of Charlestown. They re- 
paired to the place, and with minute accuracy 
examined the position. 

By the direction of General Ward, Colonel 
Gridley and Colonel Heushaw, accompaniecj 
by Mr. Devens, one of the Committee oi' Safe- 
ty from Charlestown, had examined this part 
of the country in May, and reported in favor 
of fortifying Prospect Hill first, Bunker Hill 
next, and lastly Breed's Hill. 

The settlement of Charlestown and the 
fields are situated on a peninsula, with Charles 
River on the south, and Mystic River on the. 
north. It is eleven hundred yards across from 
north to south, and one mile forty three rod§ 
in length from east to west, at which extremi- 
ty the two rivers approach each other, and 
form a neck of land but one hundred and thir- 
ty yards over. Breed's Hill is long, the east- 
ern end rather steep, the western sinking 
gradually ; the south side is very steep, and 
at the bottom of it was Charlestown. It i$ 
sixty two feet in height. The north is like- 
wise steep, and was protected at the bottom 
by a deep impassable slough ; beyond this| 
proceeding north, you cross a tongue of lancP 



264 BUNKEft HILL BATTLE. 

twenty feet in height above Mjstic River, the 
shore of which terminates it on tlie norih side* 
This tongue of land runs east to within two 
hundred and fifty yards of Morton's Hill and 
parallel with Breed's Hill. Morton's Hill lies 
northeast from Breed's, and is thirty five feet 
in height. The ground between the tongue 
of land and Breed's Hill, and bejond the east- 
ern end of it and Morton's Hill was low and 
marshy. On the driest parts of this low land, 
however, were a number of brick kilns. The 
tongue of land at its western extremity termi- 
nates in Bunker Hill, which on this side has a 
considerable slope, and on all its other sides is 
exceedingly steep. It is one hundred and ten 
feet high, bears northwest A^orn Breed's, and 
the summits of the two are distant from each 
other one hundred and thirty rods By Bun- 
ker Hill Breed's is completely commanded. 
A narrow road ran from the neck over Bunker 
Hiil, between the tongue of land and Breed's 
Hill, and entirely round Breed's Hill, ap- 
proaching very near its summit on the south. 

Even the daring enterprise of Warren hesi- 
tiated at the accunmlated dangers and diOicul- 
ties, apparently insurmountable, which oppos- 
ed our taking and maintaining possession of 
the heights of Chailestown. But the Council 
of War and Committee of Safetj, of which he 
was chairman, and in which he opposed the 
measure, adopted a aiiferent opinion. Like a 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 205 

genuine patriot, his own opiiiion was forgot- 
ten, and he joined heart and hand with his 
brethren to command success. 

On the fifteenth of June, the Committee of 
Safety passed the following votes : 

" Whereas this Committee lately applied to 
" the Honourable the Congress of this colony^ 
" for an augmentation of the army now in the 
" vicinity of Boston, and as some circumstan-» 
** ces have since taken place, which strength- 
" ened the arguments then used in favor of the 
'^ said augmentation ; particularly that many 
'' of the then expected reinforcements for Gen- 
" eral Gage's armj are arrived ; that General 
" Gage has issued a very extraordinary pro- 
*' clamation, in which the inhabitants of Mas- 
" sachusetts are, in the most explicit manner^ 
''declared rebels; and various accounts have 
" been brought to this Committee of the move- 
'' ment of General Gage's army, and that he 
" intends soon to make another attempt to 
*' penetrate into the countrv : From the con- 
*' sidcratlon of ail which premises, together 
" with that of our army. Resolved, that the 
*' good and welfare of the colony requires that 
" there be an imniediaie augmentation of said 
"army, that such soldiers in the army as be 
^' destitutt^ of arms be immediately supplied 
'' therewifh, that surh iti/insents of militia as 
^ be destitute of otficers bu iaimeawtely fiiie':J 



206 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

'^ up, in such manner as the Honourable Con- 
^' gress may direct; and that all the militia in 
" the colony be ordered to hold themselves in 
" readiness to march, on the shortest notice, 
" completely equipped, having thirty rounds of 
" cartridges per man ; all v^hich is earnestly 
" recommended to the immediate consideration 
'' of the Honourable Congress, now sitting in 
" Watertown. To which the Committee would 
" beg leave to add a general recommendation 
" to the people, to go to meeting armed on the 
" Lord's day, in order to prevent being thrown 
" into confusion." 

On the same day they passed the following 
vote, which, for secrecy, was not recorded un- 
til] the 19th of June: 

" Whereas it appears of importance to the 
" safety of this colony that possession of the 
" hill called Bunker Hill, in Charlestqwn, be 
" securely kept and defended, and also some 
" one hill or hills on Dorchester Neck be like- 
^ wise secured, therefore resolved unanimous- 
*' ly, that it be recommended to the Council of 
•* War that the above mentioned Bunker Hill 
" be maintained by sufficient force being post- 
*' ed there; and as the particular situation of 
*' Dorchester Neck is unknown to this Com- 
^ mittee, they advise that the Council of War 
^ take and pursue such steps respecting the 
^ same, as to them shall appear to be for ti>« 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 20t 

" security of this colony." On the same day 
it was ordered, " that Captain Benjamin 
" White and Colonel Joseph Palmer be a 
" committee to join with the committee from 
" the Council of War, to proceed to the Rox- 
•• bury camp, there to consult with the general 
" officers on matters of importance, and to 
"communicate to them a resolve this day 
*' passed, in this Committee, respecting Bun- 
" ker Hill in Charlestown, and Dorchester 
" Neck." The Provincial Congress prepared 
an eloquent and energetic answer to Governor 
Gage's proclamation, to be issued on the 16th 
of June, in which Governor Gage and Admi- 
ral Graves are excepted from the general am- 
nesty, to respond to the proscription of Han- 
cock and Adams ; but this paper contest was 
forgotten in the bloody battle which ensued* 



THE BATTLE. 



On the 16th of June, 1775, the approaching 
dog star shed its influence over the American 
camp. The earth was parched up; but the 
patriotism of the soldiers was more powerful 
than the sun, and their well strung nerves 
were proof against its enervating influence. 

With the advice of the Council of War, 
General Ward issued orders to Colonel Wil- 
liam Prescott, to the commander of Colonel 
Frve's regiment, and Colonel Bridge, to he 
prepared iov an expedition, with all their men 
fit for service, and one day's provisions. The 
same order issued for one hundred and twenty 
of General Putnam's regiment, and one com- 
pany of artillery with two field pieces. 

With these troops Colonel Prescott was or- 
dered to proceed to Charlestown In the even- 
ing, take possession of Bunker Hill, and erect 
the requisite fortifications to defend it. JHis> 



iStJNKER HILL BATTLE. 209 

orders were to be kept profoundly secret, and 
piovisions and refreshments were to be sent 
m the morning, with as nranj more troops as 
should be necessary to reinforce him. 

Not an officer in the army could have been 
selected more wortliy the honor, or more ad- 
equate to the arduous undertaking than Col- 
onel Prescott. In this veteran, age already 
beg^n to display its ravages ; but the fire of 
his youth was undamped. He was of Pepj)er- 
ell, and was early left in affluence by the de- 
cease of his father. He soon received a com- 
mission in the provincial army, and, with ma- 
ny of his neighbourhood who enlisted, he 
joined the forces under General Winslow, and 
assisted in the conquest of Nova Scotia. His 
military talents attracted instant admiration, 
and he was urged by the British oflicers to 
accept a commission in the royal army. At- 
tachment to his brave soldiers and country- 
men, however, did not permit him to separate 
himself from them, and he returned to his es- 
tate. The soldiers who had served under 
him still considered him their head. Like 
the chief of some feudal clan, he received them 
all with open doors at his hospitable mansion. 
In the habits he had acquired in camps his 
property Vvas expended for their relief, com- 
fort or entertainment, as fieely as they were 
ready on every occasion to shed their blood 
for his honor, and under his command. 



210 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 



His figure was tail and commanding, and his 
countenance grave, ardent and impressive as 
his character. With this presence, and his 
long and formidable sword, he needed no 
unil'oi m to distinguish him as a leader. In a 
simple cahco frock he headed the detachment 
of about one thousand nren, who left camp at 
dark, and proceeded to Charlestown. Colonel 
Prescott led the way with two sergeants, hav- 
ing dark lanterns open onlj to the rear, about 
six paces in front of the troops. 

General Putnam having the general super- 
intendance of fhe expedition, and the chief 
engineer, Colonel Gridiej, accojupanied the 
troops. 

Profound mystery hung over the object of 
the expedition till they crossed Chailestown 
Neck and found the waggons loaded with 
intrenching tools. 

The officers were hastening to order the 
arms to be stacked, and fortiiications com- 
menced, when a most serious confusion arose 
as to the construction of their orders, and the 
point to be fortified. None of the hiils ex- 
cept Bunker had yet been distinguished by 
name. And though this was the most com- 
manding and most defensible position, it was 
too far from the enemy to annoy their army 
and shipping. This hill seemed specified 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 211 

•nlj by mistake, and Breed's Hill was far 
better adapted to the important objects of the 
expedition, and better suited the adventurous 
spirit of the commanding officers. Their most 
invaluable moments were wasted without 
coming to a conclusion, though the wary and 
scientific engineer again and again urged them 
to determine at once on the ground, or it 
would be impossible to complete the requisite 
fortifications. 

Breed's Hill was at length concluded on, and 
Colonel Gridley immediately laid out the works 
upon it with a genius and skill which would 
have honored any engineer in the highest 
advance of military science. The redoubt on 
the summit of the hill was about eio^ht rods 
sqrjare. The strongest side, on front, in the 
form of a redan, faced Charlestown, and pro- 
tected the south side of the hill. The eastern 
side commanded a \ery extensive field, and 
in a line with this, running north down the 
side of the hill to the impassable slough, was 
formed a breastwork, which, at the southern 
extremity, was separated from the redoubt 
by a narrow passage way or sdMy port, pro- 
tected in front by a blind. In the rear of the 
redoubt was a passage or gate way opening 
toward the slouii^h. 

The works marked out. tools wevf^ distrib- 
uted to the men ; but midnigiit ariived before 



212 BUNKER HILL BATTLE* 

the first spade entered die ground. These 
brawny jeomen were literally, however, 
working for their lives as well as their liber- 
ties, and performed prodigies of labour. They 
were instructed and stimulated by General 
Putnam, Colonel Prescott, and other officers, 
among whom was Major Brooks, distinguish- 
ed by the well deserved confidence of the ar- 
my. Just entered on manhood he relinquish- 
ed a lucrative profession at the call of his 
country. Commanding a battalion of minute 
men, he commenced his military career at the 
battle of Lexington and received tiie same 
rank in the army. He was imperatively call- 
ed home, by dangerous sickness in his family, 
and received no order to march with his regi- 
ment. But the danger of his fellow soldiers 
was a sufficient summons, and he hastened to 
join his corps, which he overtook at the neck. 

There was an unobscured starlight, and 
the movements of the neighbouring enemy 
demanded observation. Colonel Prescott pro- 
ceeded with Major Brooks to the shore to 
reconnoitre them. Every thing was quiet; 
they distinctly heard the enemy relieving 
guard, and were rejoiced at the welcome 
cry from the centries, however unfounded, 
*^ All's well !" 

The men quietly at their labours, General 
Putnam in the morning repaired to his camp, 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 213 

to prepare for the anticipated crisis, and to be 
mounted afresh, for his gait over horseneck 
was not more expeditious ihan his ordinary- 
riding, and his horse required to be reheved. 

Watchful as Argns, Prescott could hardly 
conjecture that «he enemy were so negligent 
of military caution, as to suffer his powerful 
force to appioach tiieir very threshold un- 
observed. He advanced anew to examine 
their situation ; again all was quiet. 

But the blazing sun began his approaches, 
and the grey of the morning was dissipated. 
The veil was lifted from the astonished eyes 
of the British; but thej would hardly credit 
their senses on perceiving their daring enemy 
above them, overlooking their whole position, 
with formidable entrenchments, which had 
sprung up as by enchantment. The cannon of 
the Lively opened on the Americans and 
roused their countrymen from secure repose, 
to participate in the same surprise and as- 
tonishment. 

General Gage was thunderstruck at the 
unwelcome information, -and sent an imme- 
diate summons to his officers to meet him in 
a council of war. 

Some other frigates, floating batteries, the 
vSomerset line of battle ship, a formidable 
19 



214 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

battery of the heaviest pieces, and a mortar 
on Copps Hill, opened a tremendous fire on 
the Americans, sufficient to appal even vete- 
ran troops. 

This fire was some time without effect, but 
the men venturing in front of the works, one 
of them was killed by a cannon shot. A 
subaltern officer acquainted Colonel Prescott, 
and asked what should be done. " Burj 
" him." " What." said the green astonished 
officer, "without prayers !" A chaplain, who 
was present, insisted on performing service 
over this first victim, and collected many of 
the soldiers around him, heedless of peril. 
Prescott ordered them to disperse; but reli- 
gious enthusiasm prevailed, and the chaplain 
again collected his congregation in the midst 
of the enemy's fiie, when the deceased was 
ordered to be taken and buried in the ditch. 

To dispel the terror which this event ex- 
cited, Prescott mounted on the works, and 
directed the laboi\ Heedless of all the fire 
of the enemy, he was VMought up to the 
highest pitch of enthusiasm, and transfer-red 
his own exaltation into every private under 
him. From oppressive heat, and the vehe- 
mence of his addi'ess, his false hair was 
thrown off, and waving his swoi'd, he some- 
times upbraided his men in anger, and some- 
times encouraged them with approbation, or 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 215 

amused them with hiimour. Perfectly under- 
standing his cotintr men, he was complete 
master of theij' souls. Not the great Sn- 
Avarrow himself was ever more neo;!igent of 
appearance, or evor Inspired his faltljful Ibl- 
lowers with a confidence more entire or more 
deserved. 

General Gage was reconnoitring the ene- 
my. He handed the telescope to Wiliard. a 
mandamus counsellor, and Inquired, " who is 
" that officer commandin"- ?" He instantly 'e- 
cognized his brother- in4aiv^ Colonel l^rrscott, 
"Will he fight?" asked Gage. '^ Yes, sir, 
" depend upon it, to the last drop of blood in 
"him, but 1 cannot answer for his men," was 
the reply. 

The sufferings of the men were great; the 
heat was e?:cessive; during a sleepless night 
they iiad unremittedly labored, w^ithout even 
water, and their small stock of provisions was 
exhausted. Their officers felt for them, and 
wished Colonel Prescott to send to Cambridge 
a request to be relieved. He called a coun- 
cil, but instantly crushed the slighest hope of 
a relief. " The enemy would not dare attack 
" them, and if they did would be defeated. 
" The men who had raised the works were 
" the best qualified to defend them. They 
•• had already learned to despise the fire of 



216 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

" the enemy. They had the merit of the la- 
" bor, and should enjoy the honor of the vie- 
" tory." With renewed ardor the men con- 
tinued their labors. 

Captain Nutting with his company, and 
Captain Walker with a small detachment,* 
were ordered into Charlestown, near the fer- 
ry, by Colonel Prescott, to observe the ene- 
my's movements. 

General Gage met his officers in council. 
They did not hesitate as to the indispensable 
necessity of driving the enemy from their for- 
midable position, but found it impossible to 
agree on the mode of attack. General Clin- 
ton and General Grantt advocated attacking 
the enemy in rear. "Their men could 
" embark at the bottom of the common in 
*' boats, land at Charlestown INeck, under 
•' protection of a fire from the floating batle- 
•• ries and frigates, and Vv'ould have the enemy 
^' in their power;" and this appeared to be 
the prevailing opinion. But General Gage 
would not adopt a measure so adventurous. 
It was opposed to every well founded military 

• 

* This doubtless gave rise to Gordon's statement, tliat 
two regiments were in Charlestown. 

t Declaration of General Grant in presence of Mr. 
Cotton, now living. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 217 

rule, and was in fact contrary to the dictates 
of prudence. They would expose themselves 
between two armies, one of them superior to 
their own in numbers, and the other strongly 
posted and fortified ; they would be attacked 
in front and rear, and in fact completely sur- 
rounded, without the possibility of a retreal 
being secured to them in case of disaster. It 
was therefore determined to land and attack 
the enemy in front. 

At daybreak General Putnam ordered Lieu- 
tenant Clark to send and request of General 
Ward a horse for him to ride to Bunker Hill. 
The lieutenant went himself, but the gene- 
ral's impatience could not await an answer. 
On his return he found him mounted and de- 
parting. 

The result of General Gage's council of 
war soon became apparent. The enemy were 
observed moving with rapidity through the 
streets of Boston; a corps of dragoons ma* 
nceuvring within view of the Americans sud- 
denly galloped off the ground ; the rattling of 
artillery carriages and waogons was heard, 
and every note of preparation for a military 
movement. Prescott then believed the enemy 
would hazard an attack and was in ecstasy; 
"Now. my boys, we shall have a fight, and 
** shall beat them too," he observed. Fearless. 
19* 



218 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

himself he ihougljt the world so too, and his 
coniidence was too imphcit in the raw tnmps 
and inexperienced commanders collerli ig, for 
as an army they can hardly be said to'!»ave 
collected, at Cambridge. It was nine o'ch)ck; 
provisions and drink had been reqiiested from 
General Ward, but none had arrived, noi any 
troops to replace those at the entrenchments. 
Cjlonei Prescott called another council of 
war; again he refused to hear a word as to 
displacing his men, but consented to send to 
General Ward for refreshments and reinforce- 
ments. 

Majo*' Brooks was selected to proceed to 
Cambridge and wait on General Ward for this 
purpose. For greater expedition he was di- 
rected to take one of the artillery horses, but 
the order was vehemently opposed by Captain 
Gridley, who feared for the safety of his 
pieces if a single horse was taken from him. 
Prescott then directed him to proceed on foot 
with as much despatch as possible. He arriv- 
ed at head quarters about ten, and delivered 
his instructions to General Ward. The gen- 
eral hesitated as to the policy of sending re- 
inforcements to Charlestown, and doubted 
whether the real intention of the enemy was 
to make his attack on that point. At Cam- 
bridge and Watertown were the scanty depots 
of ammunition, ordnance stores and materiel 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 219 

(tff every species belonging to the army. On 
these th.e salvation of the country seemed to 
depend, and he presumed the enemy intended 
to seize die prCvsent opportunity, to make an 
attack on head quarters, and gain pobsessioD 
ol" the depots. 

The Committee of Safety was then In ses- 
sion in the Vfiy house in uliicli the general 
quartered, and to them he coaioiunicatcd tiie 
information and request, brouglu by Major 
Brooks. Richard iJevens, one ot the nsem- 
bers, was of Charlestown. His anxiety that 
his estate and native town should be protect- 
ed from the inroad of the enemy, amounted 
almost to phrenzy; his importunity viih ttie 
general and the committee to have ample re- 
inforcements sent to Colonel Prescott was 
equally vehement and impassioned. The com- 
mittee recommended sending reinforcements, 
and the general consented that orders should 
go to the New Hampshire troops, stationed at 
Medford, to proceed to Charlestown and re- 
inforce Colonel Prescott, and these orders 
were immediately sent to Colonel Stark and 
Colonel Reed. 

General Warren, the Chairman of the Com- 
mittee of Safety was present. The day be- 
fore he had officiated as President of the Con- 
gress at Watertown, and had passed the night 



220 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

there, engaged in the accumulated concerns of 
the pubhc. His friend, Honorable El bridge 
Gerry, had learned the determination to take 
and fortify Bunker HilL He remonstrated 
with him against the glaring imprudence of the 
measure, with our defective means. '' We 
*' had not powder to maintain the desperate 
" conflict which must ensue, and should all be 
'' cut to pieces." General Warren confessed 
he entertained the same opinion; but it was de- 
termined otherwise, and he was resolved to 
share the fate of his countrymen. His friend 
conjured him not to expose his invaluable life 
where his destruction would be useless and 
inevitable. '• I know it," said the hero, '* but I 
"live within sound of the cannon, and should 
"die were I to remain at home while my fel- 
"low citizens are shedding their blood forme 
"and my country." He arrived at Cambridge 
by daylight, complained of headache and tb.rew 
himself on the bed. On receiving information 
that the enemy were coming out. General 
Ward sent to notify him. He jumped from 
his bed, declared *' his headaciie was gone 
" then," and after meeting with the Committee 
of Safetj, mounted his horse, and with his fu- 
sil and sword repaired to tlie post of dana-t r. 
He joinr'd General Putnam, and they conj^ult- 
ed on n>easures to be pursued. General Put- 
nam intormed him that '- from long experience 
" he perfectly comprehended the character of 
" the British army ; they would ultimately sue- 



^^UN'KER HILL BATTLE. 221 

<'ceed and drive us from the works, but from 
"the mode of attack they had ciiosen, it was 
'Mn our power to do them iniinite aiischief, 
" though we must be prepared for a brave and 
"orderly retreat, when we could maintain our 
"ground no longer." Warren expressed his 
full assent to these opinions and agreed to be 
governed by them. 

At eleven the New Hampshire troops re- 
ceived orders from Cambridge. About fiiteen 
charges of loose powder and balls were dis- 
tributed to each, and they were directed to 
form these into cartridges immediately. Few 
of the men, however, poi^sessed cartridge box- 
es, but employed only powder horns ; and 
scarcely two of their guns agreeing in calibie, 
they were obliged to alter the bails accord- 
ingly. 

At the long wharf, in Boston, four battalions 
of British infantry, ten companies of grena- 
diers, and ten of light infantry, were embark- 
ed in boats. Some ot these were taken from 
transports, and had never disembarked since 
their voyage. They were now to land, not 
like Antaeus, to gain new strength ffom the 
earth, but to shed their liie's blood on her 
bosom. 

About one o'clock a large portion of these 
troops, together with six pieces of cannon and 



22*2 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

howitzers, landed at Morton's Point. Here 
thej irnnjediatelj discovered a most disastrous 
mistake ; the cartridges sent for the use of the 
artillery were too large for the pieces. They 
Were immediately sent back, and a new sup- 
ply obtained. At tlie same time General 
Howe, the commander of the forces, discover- 
ing on his near approach the formidable na-^ 
ture of the enemy's position, requested rein- 
forcements from General Gage. About two 
o'clock the remainder of the forces leave 
Winnisimit Ferry and land at Morton's Point ; 
and soon after the relnforcemf^nts, the forty 
seventh battalion, a battalion of marines, ex- 
cept a few of this corps who were preparing 
to embark, a few compa?)ies of grenadiers and 
light infantry, land under the eastern end of 
Breed's Hill, at Madlin's shipyard. All these 
troops cannot be estimated at less than five 
thousand; If the coips were but half full there 
were four thousand three hundred and fifty. 
While the enemy were landing General Put- 
nam ordered Captain KnowTton, with the 
Connecticut troops, to take post behind a rail 
fence, which ran across the tongue of land, 
from the road to Mystic River, a distance of 
two hundred and fifty yards. In front of this 
whole line of fence was a thick orchard, and 
another, more spare, in the rear. These 
troops pulled up the neighbouring fences, and 
placmg them near the one at which they were 
posted, threw in the new mown grass between. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 223 

Few of the fields, however, were mown, and 
this cover was a mere shadow of a defence. 

This fence was one hundred and ninety 
yards in rear of the breastwork, and eighty 
yards in rear of the head or western end of 
the slough, leaving a very extensive opening 
between the breastwork and rail fence, by 
which the left flank of the breastwork, and 
troops resting on the slough, were entirely 
exposed to cannon shot; and a considerable 
space, one hundred yards diagonally, between 
the slough and the rail fence, was open to the 
advance of infantry. This was the weak 
point and the very key of the American posi- 
tion. 

The detachments in Charlestown were now 
recalled by Colonel Prescott, and took post 
at a narrow cart way, which ran from the 
southeastern angle of the redoubt, directly 
south, to the narrow way rouqd the hill. 
They placed the fences together, and threw 
in grass, as was done on the left. 

The thundering cannonade of the enemy 
soon spread the information of an approaching 
engagement. The American citizens in the 
neighbourhood flocked to the scene, and the 
soldiers voluntarily ran to arms, and entreat- 
ed to be led against the foe. Colonel Litllf^'s 
jsegiment had just arrived from Esaex and 



224 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

were not even commissioned Awaiting no 
orders, thej left ihelr quarters In West Cam- 
bi itige, marched to General Ward and tender- 
ed their services. 

The Connecticut troops were equally anx- 
ious to join their general ; ihej were all un- 
der arms, and sent to head quarters for orders. 
But General VVaid informed them they had 
already the post of honor, for the Biitish 
were expected to land at Inman's farm their 
present position. 

For greater caution Colonel Gardner's re- 
giment, and one or two others, were marched 
half way to Charlestown there to wait further 
orders. But the enemy's intentions were now 
clearly pronounced, by their preparation to 
land at Charlestown. Orders were in haste 
despatched to a number of infantry regiments 
—Captain Callender's company and Major 
Gridley's battalion of artillery, to proceed in- 
stantly to Charlestown to reinforce their coun- 
trymen. 

Colonel Prescott had stretched the endur- 
ance and exertions of his detachment to the 
utmost of the human constitution. They had 
thrown up a defence good against muskets, 
and most of it against artillery. But the com- 
manding summit of Bunker Hill, of vital impor- 
tance to them in case of retreat, was not yet 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 225 

fortified. Putnam was anxious and mortified 
tliat a post, on which his defence and reputa- 
tion so materially depended, should be entire- 
ly neglected. His mother wit, cultivated in 
the school of experience, under British officers, 
the most distinguished masters of the day, per- 
fectly comprehended the immense importance 
of entrenching. He seemed to have intuitive- 
ly seized the maxims of Csesar's learned cam- 
paigns, as well as to anticipate the scientific 
results of such modern defences as General 
Jackson's. He ordered the entrenching tools 
to be carried by a large detachment to the 
rear. 

The first division of the enemy awaiting the 
remainder of the detachment, which had not 
yet embarked, were quietly dining, and most 
of them for the last time, from their crowded 
and cumbrous knapsacks. 

General Putnam seized the opportunity of 
hastening to Cambridge, whence he returned 
with the reinforcements. He had to pa^s a 
galling enfilading fire of round, bar and chain 
shot, which thundered across the neck from 
the Glasgow frigate in the channel of Charles 
River, and two floating batteries hauled close 
to the shore. 

And now the brave Stark arrived with his 
regiment. General Putnam reserved a part 
20 



220 BUKKER HILL BATTLE. 

of it, to throw up a work on Bunker Hill, and 
ordered hirn to press on to the lines as quick 
as possible, with the remainder. Thej pro- 
ceeded with the other New Hampshire regi- 
ment under Colonel Reed, and joined the 
Connecticut troops at the rail fence. 

About five thousand British troops, and a 
new supply of artillery ammunition, had land- 
ed. Major General Howe was their com- 
mander, a distinguished soldier, and like all his 
family, of undaunted bravery ; under him was 
General Pigot, and the other renowned chiefs 
were. Colonels Nesbit, Abercrombie, Clarke, 
Majors Butler, Williams, Bruce, Spendlove, 
Smelt, Mitchell, Pitcairn, Short, Small, Lords 
Percy and Rawdon. The troops were in 
columns, waiting the signal to advance. They 
and their enemy opposed to them were in a 
vast amphitheatre, formed by elevated heights 
which rise from Boston Bay, surrounding them 
on every other side at the distance only of a 
few miles. These heights were covered with 
Americans, who had been brought from a dis- 
tance, by anxious curiosity, to witness a scene 
so sublime, and learn the event of a contest, 
on which the fate of a new world depended; 
and many of them to witness the fate of a par- 
ent, brother or husband engaged. The heights 
and the steeples in Boston were similarly 
crowded by the inhabitants and British sol- 
diers. And many a soldier's wife witnessed 



BUNKER HttiL BATTLE. 22T 

the events, with a melancholy foreboding that 
she was left a widow, and her home three 
thousand miles across the ocean. 

A tremendous cannonade from Boston open- 
ed on the camp at Roxburj, to contain the 
Americans who were there under arms. It 
added to the continued roar of the batteries 
and shipping against Charlestown, and the bat- 
tle was commencing. It was indeed a scene 
interesting beyond the reach of human imagi- 
nation. 

The field artillery opened on the works ; it 
was the signal to advance^ The Americans 
faintly responded with their two small pieces. 
They had fired a few useless shot at Copps 
Hill, but there were no embrasures in the im- 
perfect redoubt ; their slight platform was 
broken, and the artillery cartridges were re- 
served. 

The drums beat to arms. Putnam left hi$ 
works, commenced on Bunker Hill, and led 
the troops into action. 

Little's regiment arrived ; he ordered them 
to their posts. Captain Warner's company 
advanced to the rail fence on the right of the 
redoubt, Captain Perkins' to the exposed po- 
sition between the breastwork and rail fence 
on the left, and the remainder found th^it 



228 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

places in the line. Colonel Jonathan Brewer, 
With his regiment^ and Captain Callcnder, 
with his artillery, also arrived. 

• Tfie veteran General Pomeroy heard the 
peajjng artihery, which seemed to invite him 
to b'in]e; he was si soldier too brave, and a 
p^^tiiot too ardent, to resist a summons so 
a/;ieeab!e. He requested a horse of General 
Yi 'aid: to carry hina to the field; delighted at 
an aid so important, it was instantly suppHed. 
^'[th his uKJsket and cartridges he repaired to 
the neck; inquiring of a sentry posted there, 
and viewing the gro?ind and the tremendous fire 
across, he was alarmed not for himself, but for 
the horse he had borrowed; he delivered him 
to the sentry, and coolly marched across. He 
advanced to the rail fence at the left. His ap- 
proach gave new confidence to the men ; thej 
received him with the highest exultation, and 
the name of General Pomeroy rang through 
the line. In early life he had been an ingeni- 
ous mechanic, and many a soldier was sup- 
plied with arms of his manufacture. Had 
Vulcan himself supplied the Grecians with his 
celestial armor, and appeared in their ranks, 
they would not have been more certain of 
victory. 

General Warren took post at the redoubt. 
Colonel Prescott offered liim the command, 
but he had not yet received his commission, 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 229 

and tendered the colonel his assistance as a 
volunteer ; " he was happy to learn service 
" from a soldier of experience." 

The columns of the enemy were advancing 
slowly, and halted at intervals, to give the ar- 
tillery an opportunity to render a passage over 
the works practicable. General Howe, re- 
markably tall, and a prominent mark, advanc- 
ed two hundred yards in front of the troops 
to reconnoitre. 

The fifth regiment, one of grenadiers, and 
another of light infantry, move under cover of 
the tongue of land, at the foot of it display^ 
and advance in front to the rail fence; except 
nine of the light companies, who move by 
the right flank on the shore of Mystic River 
to turn the American left. This attack was 
led by General Howe. 

The fifty second regiment, thirty eighth, 
thirty fifth, forty seventh, three grenadier and 
three light companies, and the marines, under 
cover of Breed's Hill, display, and are led by 
General Pigot against the redoubt and breast- 
work. 

The lines advanced and soon opened to 
view. The American marksmen are with dif- 
ficulty restrained from firing. General Put- 
nam rode through the line, and ordered that 
20* 



230 BUNKER hill' BATTLE. 

no one should fire till they arrived within eight 
rods, nor any one till commanded. "Powder 
" was scarce and must not be wasted. They 
" should not fire at the enemy till they saw 
" the white of their eyes, and then fire low^ 
" take aim at their waistbands. They were 
" all marksmen, and could kill a squirrel at 
"a hundred yards; reserve their fire, and the 
" enemy were all destroyed. Aim at the hand- 
"some coats, |Dick off the commanders." The 
same orders were reiterated by Prescott at 
the redoubt, by Pomeroy, Stark, and all the 
veteran oflacers. 

The enemy were within gunshot of the re- 
doubt ; a few of the sharp shooters could not 
resist the temptation and fired. Prescott was 
indignant at this contempt of his orders ; wav- 
ing his sword he swore instant death against 
the first who disobeyed again, appealed to 
their well known confidence in him, and pro- 
mised to give them orders at the proper mo- 
ment. 

The enemy were at eight rods distance, the 
deadly muskets were levelled, when Prescott 
commanded his men to take good aim, be sure 
of their mark, and fire. He was effectually 
obeyed. The whole front rank was swept 
away, and many a gallant officer laid low. 
They were, however, ccuntrjmen of those 
who gave the fire, and received it with the 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 23 I 

same cool courage with which it was given. 
Rank succeeded rank, and returned the fire, 
but the odds was fearful; the Americans were 
well protected by the works ; the efibrts and 
courage of the enemy were in vain, and with 
surlj reluctance they were compelled to re- 
treat. 

Warren animated and encouraged the men, 
and with the rest ot the officers, set them an 
example with his musket ; there was scarcely 
an officer of any grade, except Putnam and 
Prescott, without one. 

Perfect as was the fire of the American 
infantry, their artillery was as grossly defec- 
tive in every respect. This arm requires 
science, experience and knowledge of position. 
But the artillery companies were just selected 
from the infantry, and entirely ignorant of their 
duty. Callender carried his pieces into action, 
but his cartridges required adjusting. Totally 
in violation of mihtary disciphne, he left his 
post without orders, and was retiring to a se- 
cure place under cover of the hill, to prepare 
for firing. Putnam observed this appearance 
of retreat and was fired with indignation ; he 
ordered him instantly to his post; Callender 
remonstrated, but Putnam threatened him with 
instant death, if he hesitated, and forced him 
back. His men. however, were disgusted with 
a part of the service they did not understand, 



232 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

most of them had muskets and mingled in the 
fight ; the pieces were entirely deserted, and 
the captain relinquished them. 

The British had neglected the only ma- 
noeuvre which would have defeated the ene- 
my, to mount the works and charge with the 
bayonet. The Americans had scarcely a bay- 
onet to a company, and it must have succeed- 
ed. Under cover of the hill they prepared 
for another onset. 

Their fellow soldiers on the right arrived 
about the time of this attack on the redoubt 
to within about one hundred yards of the 
x\mcricans. They were throwing down a 
fence, when a few marksmen fired on them. 
Putnam was enrao^ed at this disobedience of 
an order on which the salvation of the army 
depended ; he rode to the spot, his sword 
whistling through the air; in his indignation he 
threatened to cut dowa the first who dared to 
fire again without orders. The discharge 
from these few muskets, however, drew the 
hre from the enemy's line, which continued 
moving; on, and when about eicrht rods from 
the fence, the fatal order was given ; the fire 
of the Americans mowed them down with the 
same tremendous seventy, as at the redoubt. 
The officers especially fell victims to their 
deadly aim. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 233 

Dining this tremendous fire of musketry 
and roar of cannon, McClarj's gigantic voice 
was distinctly heard, animating and encourag- 
ing the men as though he would Inspire every 
ball that sped with his own tire and energy. 

The British fired their heaviest voilies of 
musketry widi admirable coolness and regu- 
larity, but without aim, at the Americans, and 
almost every hall passed harmless over them. 
Their artillery had been stopped by the brick 
kilns in the low ground, and produced lilde 
effect. This wing of the army having cover- 
ed the ground with their dead, were at length 
compelled likewise to retreat ; and the huzza of 
viotory reechoed through the American line. 

General Ward had by this time despatched 
sufficient reinforcements, but they did not 
reach the field. The fire across the neck 
wore an aspect too terrific for raw troops to 
venture in it. Putnam fiew^ to the spot to 
overcome their fears and hurry them on be- 
fore the enemy returned. He entreated, 
threatened and encouraged them ; lashing liis 
horse with the flat of his sw ord, he rode back- 
ward and forward across the neck, through 
the hottest fire, to convince them there was 
no danger. The balls however threw up 
clouds of dust about him, and the soldiers 
were perfectly convinced that he was invul- 
nerable, but not equally conscious of being so 



234 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

themselves.* Some of these troops, however^ 
ventured over. 

The battalion of artillery under Major 
Gridley bad proceeded but a few hundred 
rods down the road to Charlestown when 
they were halted, and this officer determined 
not to proceed to the hill but wait and cover 
the retreat, which he considered inevitable. 
He was young and inexperienced, and totally 
inadequate to the important command which 
had been conferred on him in compliment to 
his father, Colonel Gridley. He was con- 
founded widi the dangers and difficulties of 
his situation, and never recovered his self 
possession during the day. 

While the artillery was halted in this situa- 
tion. Colonel James Frye, (who was absent 
from his regiment on duty the day before, but 
the battle approaching, had found his way to 
the field,) riding from Charlestown galloped up 
to them and demanded of the senior captain,t 
" why this unseasonable halt !" He was aston- 
ished at the reply, and ordered them instantly 
to the field. This veteran also animated their 
courage by the glorious recollection " this day 

* The principal fact here is proved by the deposition 
of Mr. Samuel Bassett ; the otlier circumstances by oral 
testimony. 

t Yet living, and from whom we have this anecdoff . 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 235 

" thirty years since, I was at the taking of 
" Louisbourg when it was surrendered to us ; 
*' it is a fortunate day for America, we shall 
" certainly beat the enemy." 

The artillery proceeded. Gridley joined 
them; but his aversion to joining in the en- 
gagement was invincible, and he ordered them 
on to Cobble Hill to fire at the Glasgow and 
floating batteries. The order was so palpably 
absurd, with their three pounders, that Cap- 
tain Trevett absolutely refused obedience, 
ordered his men to follow him, and marched 
for the lines. 

Major Gridley was sensible his artillery 
would be hazarded without infantry to cover 
them. Colonel Mansfield had been ordered 
with his regiment to reinforce the troops at 
Charlestown, but being peremptorily com- 
manded by Major Gridley, whom he consid- 
ered high military authority, to cover his 
pieces, he complied in violation of his orders. 

General Putnam left the neck for Bunker 
Hill to bring up the reinforcements. He there 
found Colonel Gerrish with his regiment and 
some other scattered troops. The colonel 
had been a captain in the provincial army of 
1756; he was of unwieldy corpulence and a 
disposition by far too quiet for a soldier's. 
He had marched his men rapidly from Cam- 



236 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

bridge, and unwisely halted them here to rest. 
The blazing sun and tremendous fire of the 
enemy combmed were far too powerful for 
the faintness of his military ardor to overcome. 
The men were disorganized and dispersed on 
the west side of 4\ie hill, and covered by the 
summit from the fire. Putnam ordered them 
on to the lines ; he entreated and threatened 
them, and some of the most cowardly he 
knocked down with his sword, but all ih vain. 
The men com[)lained they had not their offi- 
cers ; he offered to lead them on himself, but 
" the cannon were deserted and they stood no 
" chance without them " The battle indeed 
appeared here in all its horrors. 1 he Brit- 
ish musketry fired high and took effect on 
this elevated hill and it was completely ex- 
posed to the combined fire from their ships, 
batteries, and field pieces. 

The enemy were by this time organized 
anew and weie again advancing to the attack. 
Putnam's duty called him to the lines. At 
this time Captain Ford appeared with his 
company. He served in a regiment under the 
veteran Lieutenant Colonel Parker and Major 
Brooks. Of them he had learned the duties 
of a soldier. He had already signalized him- 
self at Lexington battle by killing five of the 
enemy. His orders were to proceed to the 
lines and rf^nforce the troops ; he obeyed, 
marched unconcerned across the neck and 



- BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 237 

was proceeding down Bunker Hill, when 
Putnam was delighted with an aid so oppor- 
tune. Callender's deserted cannon were at 
the foot of the Jiiil ; he ordered Captain Ford 
with his company to draw them into hne. 
The captain remonstrated " his company were 
" totally ignorant of the discipline and em- 
'* ployment of artillery." But the general per- 
emptorily persisting in his order, he obeyed ; 
his company moved with the cannon and the 
sjeneral himself to the rail fence. 

The heroic enemy with unwavering step 
and firm undaunted bravery appeared again 
before the murderous lines which had already 
compelled them to retreat. They had nearly 
the same obstacles to overcome as before. 
Their cumbrous knapsacks, tall and almost 
impassable grass, and a torrid sun blazing in 
face of them they had to contend against, as 
well as an enemy every way worthy of them. 
One new obstacle they had to pass, the dead 
bodies of their fellow soldiers which covered 
the ground. But this served rather to stimu- 
late them to still more daring efforts to re- 
venge their fall. The last of the reinforce- 
ments, a few companies of marines, arrived on 
the left. 

The Americans were now more confident 
and perfect than before in a manoeuvre which 
had been crowned with success. It was in- 
21 



238 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

deed perfectly simple, but equally fatal to the 
foe. They received orders to reserve their 
fire till the enemy approached still nearer 
than before. At six rods only they were per- 
mitted to return the fire. The British artil- 
lery approached by the narrow road between 
the tongue of land and Breed's Hill, within 
three hundred yards of the rail fence, and 
almost In a line with the redoubt, and opened 
on the lines to prepare a way for their In- 
fantry. The latter commenced a regular and 
tremendous volley by platoons, and their fire 
soon became general. But unfortunately for 
them, though perfect in drill discipline, and 
regular movements of parade, they were as 
grossly unskilful in what was a thousand times 
more important, a knowledge of their wea- 
pons. Their aim was too elevated, and the 
enemy were hidden behind their works. Some 
of their balls however took effect, and a few of 
the privates fell victims. The brave Major 
Moore was mortally wounded. Major Buck- 
minster received a ball through the shoulder 
and was crippled for life. 

To add new horrors to the scene, vast col- 
umns of smoke were now observed over 
Charlestown, and passed to the south over 
the American lines. General Howe on his 
first advance had sent word to General Bur- 
goyne and General Clinton on Copps Hill, 
that his left flank was annoyed by musketry 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 239 

from Charlestovvn, and ordered them to burn 
it down. A carcass was fired, but fell sbort 
near the ferrv way; a second fell in the street, 
and the town was on fire. The confla- 
gration was completed by a detachment of 
men who landed from the Somerset. The 
whole town was combustible. The flames as- 
cended to heaven on the lofty spire of the 
church, and resembled the eruptions of a vast 
volcano in solemn grandeur and sublimity. 
Tiie advance of the enemy was not obscured 
by the smoke from Charlestown ; they were in 
full view of the Americans. Putnam now, 
with tiie assistance of Captain Ford's compa- 
ny, opened his artillery upon them. He had 
on this day performed the service of general, 
engineer and guide, and he now turned can- 
nonier, with splendid success.; and to the high- 
est satisfaction of his surrounding countrymen. 
Each company of artillery had but twelve? 
cartridges, and these were soon expended. 
He pointed the cannon himself, the balls took 
effect on the enemy, and one case of canister 
made a lane through them. As in Milton's 
battle, 

" Foul dissipation followed and forced rout." 

With w'onderful courage, however, the enemy 
closed his ranks, and the fire became general 
on both sides. The Americans suffered the 
enemy to approach still nearer than before ; 



240 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

men and officers fell in promiscuous heaps ; 
whole front ranks of them were swept away. 
• 
General Ward was without staff officers to 
bear his commands, excepting one aid and a 
secretary, who performed the duty. During 
the whole day these were mounted and on full 
speed between Breed's Hill and head quarters. 
Loss and neglect of orders were the inevita- 
ble consequence. Colonel Gardner's regi- 
ment and others who had been posted between 
Cambridge and Charlestown, to wait further 
orders, were overlooked. The battle was 
raging, and no orders arrived. The colonel 
was a gentleman of rank, had been a member 
of the legislature, and commanded a regiment 
of militia, which, marching to Lexington to 
join in the engagement there, suddenly open- 
ed on the British artillery; being entirely void 
of cover they dispersed. His gallant soul Mi 
their conduct as a stigma on himself, and he 
resolved on the earliest opportunity to wipe 
the spot from his escutcheon. A glorious oc- 
casion was before him, and he panted to em- 
brace it — to reap the honors of victory, or 
death and lasting fame. The latter fate was 
decreed him. He called to him his officers, 
and oifered to lead them into battle ; most of 
them with three hundred of his men followed 
him. He led them over Bunker Hill, viewed 
with unconcern the battle scene on the hill be- 
fore him, terrible as Mount Sinai, and witli 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 241 

glorious anticipations, was descending to the 
engagement, when a masket ball entered his 
groin, and the wound proved mortal. He gave 
his men his last solemn injunction, to conquer 
or die, and was carried off the field. He soon 
met Captain Trevett advancing with his artil- 
lery, and an interesting and heroic interview 
ensued between the colonel and Captain Tre- 
vett's second Lieutenant Gardner, his son, a 
mere youth of nineteen. The son was in ao-o- 
nj at the desperate situation of his father, and 
would have attended him off the ground. But 
the colonel prohibited this. " He should not 
" be alarmed at his situation, he was engaged 
'• in a good cause and must march on and do 
" his duty." The distracted son obeyed, and 
his dying father had the consolation to learn 
that his last injunction and glorious example 
were not lost ; and that his son was worthy 
of him. 

These reinforcements, with Captain Clark 
and Captains Chester and Coit, who soon fol- 
lowed with their companies, supplied the 
places of those who had expended their ammu- 
nition and left the ground, and of the detach- 
ment sent off with the entrenching tools, who, 
in contempt of their orders, never returned. 

The British had a long time borne the mur- 
derous fire of the 'enemy, but their astonish^ 
log fortitude and daring efforts were useless- 
21* 



242 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

against the insuperable difficulties thej encoun- 
tered. Nearly a thousand of their number 
had fallen, with an incredible proportion of 
the bravest officers. The distinguished Col- 
onels Abercrornbie and Williams, and Major 
Spend love, had purchased fame with their 
lives. 

The gallant Major Small was left standing 
alone, every one shot down about him. The 
never erring muskets were levelled at him, 
and a soldier's fate was his inevitable destiny, 
had not Putnam at the instant appeared. 
Each recognized in the other an old fiiend 
and fellow soldier; the tie was sacred; Putnam 
threw up the deadly muskets with his sword, 
and arrested his fate. He begged his men to 
spare that officer, as dear to him as a brother. 
The general's humane and chivalrous gene- 
rosity excited in them new admiration, and his 
friend retired unhurt. 

The undaunted Howe still led on his men 
in the hottest of the battle. His friend and 
volunteer aid, Gordon, and Captain Addison, a 
descendant from the author of the Spectator, 
were slain, and almost every other officer of 
his staff or near him was shot. Mortified and 
indignant at so much blood wasted in vain, 
he seemed to court an honorable death to 
hide him from the disgrace of a second deleat 
by an enemy he despised as peasants and re- 



HUNKER HILL BATTLE. 243 

bels. His life seemed charmed, and he was 
compelled to follow his' army, who again re- 
treated and left their enernv to taste, a second 
tmie, the jojs ot victory. 

The exultation of the Americans was glori- 
ous and well deserved, but it was, alas, short 
lived. They had leisure to realize the entire 
hopelessness of their situation. Their ammu- 
nition was expended, and they were as desti- 
tute of every offensive weapon as the naked 
savages, their predecessors. Prescott found a 
few artillery cartridges, which he distributed 
to his men, and they determined to show a re- 
solute front to the enemy, to club their mus- 
kets, and even employ the stones thrown up 
with the parapet against them. Their only 
hope, however, was from a want of fortitude 
in the enemy, and that they had twice this 
day proved was slender indeed. 

General Howe gave his men orders to pre- 
pare again to advance. Some of the officers 
remonstrated, that it would be mere butchery 
to lead them on again, but the generals, and 
nearly every officer, were indignant at a dis- 
tant suspicion of their yielding the victory to 
these rebels, an undisciplined rabble, of inferior 
numbers, after all their boasting, and atler they 
had poured out every epithet of contempt 
against them. To conquer or die was their 
resolve. 



244 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Bloody experience at last opened their eves 
to their eorrei^ious errors. Their overvvceninjr 
confidence was laid aside, and a calculated, 
deliberate and judicious plan of attack adopt- 
ed. The overloaded knapsacks were relin- 
quished ; firing with musketry was prohibited, 
and a charge with the bayonet resorted to. 
The attack was to be more concentrated; 
while the troops at the rail fence were amus- 
ed by a show of force, the grand effort was to 
be against the redoubt and breastwork, and 
particularly the right flank. 

The accomplished and chivalrous General 
Clinton now joined and brought his splendid 
talents into the council, and his distinguished 
gallantry into the field. Immediate and in- 
conceivable was the sensation his appearance 
produced at this moment of deep despondence. 
From Copps Hill he had observed with shame 
and indignation the double rout of his country- 
men, and particularly that the two distinguish- 
ed battalions, the marines and forty seventh, 
were staggered and w^averlng. Without wait- 
ing for orders, he threw himself into a boat, 
passed over, and soon breathed into them his 
own exalted heroism. 

General Howe a third time commanded a 
forward movement to scale the works and 
rush on the enemy with the bayonet. He came 
to the left to lead on to the redoubt himself- 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 245 

Clinton joined General Pigot and the marines 
on the loft to turn the right flank of the ene- 
my. The artillery were ordered to advance 
still farther than before on their old rout, and 
turn the left of the breastwork to rake the 
line. General Howe at last became sensible 
that this was the most vulnerable point and 
key of the enemy's position. 

The Americans made every preparation 
possible to repel the last desperate effort of 
the enemy. Putnam again rode to the rear, 
and exhausted every art and effort to bring on 
the scattered reinforcements. Captain Bay- 
ley, only, of Colonel Gerrish's regiment, ad- 
vanced to the lines, and Captain Trevett now 
arrived at the rail fence with his pieces. 

The enemy stripped off their knapsacks, 
and many of them their coats ; the artillery 
pushed on by the road on the north, the forty 
seventh and marines near the road on the south 
side of the hill, and the remains of the royal Irish 
and other regiments, and part of the grena- 
diers and light infantry in front. Their past 
efforts had exhausted the strength and spirit 
of many of the men who lingered in the rear, 
and their gallant officers were compelled to 
urge them on with their swords. Some of the 
less resolute fired their pieces, but the great 
masses obeyed their orders, and with firmness 
moved on to the charo-e. Thev arrived under 



24:6 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

the fire of the Americans, who improved to 
advantage their last opportunity for ven- 
geance. Every shot took effect. The gallant 
Howe at last received a ball in the foot, wliero 
only like Achilles he seemed to be vulnerable, 
but continued to animate his men. 

A few only of the Americans had a charge 
of ammunition remaining. They had sent lor 
a supply in vain ; a barrel and a half only were 
in the magazine. They resorted next to stones, 
but these served only to betray their weak- 
ness, and lent new energy to the foe. 

The artillery advanced to the open space 
between the breastwork and rail fence ; this 
ground was defended by some brave Essex 
troops, covered only by scattered trees. With 
resolution and deadly aim they poured the 
most destructive volliee'on the enemy. The 
cannx)n, however, turned the breastwork, en- 
filaded the line, and sent tlieir balls through 
the open gateway or sally port, directly into 
the redoubt, under cover of which the troops 
at tlie breastwork were compelled to retire. 

The enemy bravely l>ore the deadly fire, 
and continually closing his broken ranks, de- 
liberately advanced on every side of the re- 
doubt except the north. They were now un- 
der the eastern side of the redoubt and cover- 
ed from the fire. The Americans retired to 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 247 

the side opposite to take them as they rose. 
Lieutenant Prescott, a nephew of the colonel, 
received a ball throup:h the arm ; it hung bro- 
ken and useless by his side. The colonel or- 
dered him to content himself* with encourag- 
ing his men. But he contrived to load his 
piece, and was passing by the sally port to 
rest against the enemy, when a cannon ball 
cut him to pieces. 

Young Richardson of the royal Irish, was 
the first to mount the works, and was instant- 
ly shot down ; the front rank which succeeded 
shared the same fate. Among these mounted 
the gallant Major Pitcairn, and exultingly 
cried " the day is ours," when a black soldier 
named Salem,* shot him through and he fell. 
His agonized son received him in his arms and 
tenderly bore him to the boats. It was he 
who caused the first effusion of blood at Lex- 
ington. In that battle his horse was shot un- 
der him, while he was separated from his 
troops ; with presence of mind he feigned him- 
self slain ; his pistolst were taken from his 
holsters, and he was left for dead, when he 
seized the opportunity and escaped. 

* A coiitiibution was made in the army for this sol- 
die)', and he was presented to Washington, as having 
performed this feat. 

t This trophy afterwards belonged to General Put- 
nam, and yet remains in his family, from whom we have, 
tiie above anecdote. 



248 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

The heroic but dlrDinutive Pigot ran up the 
southeast corner of the redoubt, assisted by a 
tree left standing there, and desperately led 
on his men. Troops succeeded troops over 
the parapet, and Prescott exhausted every re- 
source to repel them, even with the buts of 
his oruns. 

o 

But he had now his last great victory to 
achieve, to which all his past toils, dangers 
and privations, were nothing. He had twice 
conquered the enemy ; he had now, a more 
difficult task, to conquer himself, to bend down 
his lofty soul, and turn his back to the enemy. 
Perfectly careless of his own life, he had no 
right to triile witli the lives of his men. It 
was a sacred deposit they had entrusted to his 
honor, a bond which he never forfeited. In- 
stead of an useless waste of life, with a " nil 
desperandum," he quelled his revolting spirit 
and ordered a retreat. 

General Ward had gratified at last the ar- 
dent wishes of the Connecticut troops to join 
their beloved general. Captains Chester, 
Clark and Coit were on the ground with their 
troops, and Major Durkee's impatience had 
before this brought him mounted to the field, 
to join his old commander and comrade of for- 
mer wars. Putnam's imagination had already 
inscribed the victory of Bunker Hill on his 
coat of arms, when a dark cloud flew across 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 249 

the brilliant prospect. The retreat of the 
right wing burst upon him. 

The gallant veteran Gridley now received 
a ball through the leg, and was carried off. 
He had served all night at the entrenchments, 
and had all day assisted in defending his own 
works, and proving their excellence. 

Prescott's troops fought their way through 
the surrounding enemy. The veteran Captain 
Bancroft was charging his piece, a British 
soldier leaped from the parapet, touching him 
as he came to the ground, and levelled at him; 
they fired together ; the captain tore him to 
pieces and escaped unhurt. One of the men 
without ammunition perceived Lieutenant 
Prescott's loaded musket by its deceased mas- 
ter ; a Briton obstructed his passage ; seizing 
the loaded musket he brought his antagonist 
to the ground. 

Colonel Bridge, who came with the first de- 
tachment, was one of the last to retreat, and 
was twice severely wounded, in the head and 
neck. His lieutenant colonel, the veteran 
Parker, who had escaped through the whole 
war of 1756, in which he had signalized him- 
self, and especially at the desperate siege of 
Fort Frontinac, received a ball in the thigh, 
and was left mortally wounded in the re- 
doubt. 

22 



250 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

The chivalrous Warren lingered to the last. 
His exalted spirit disdained as a disgrace a 
retreat the most inevitable. He aniaiated the 
men to the most desperate daring ; and when 
hope itself had fled, he still disdained to fly. 
With suilen reluctance he followed his coun- 
trymen, and seemed to court that ball from 
the enemy, which a {ew yards from the re- 
doubt, passed through his head, and secured 
to him the eternal gratitude of his country- 
men, and immortal fame throughout the world. 

Small here repaid the debt of gratitude he 
owed the enemy. He recognized Warren, 
his intimate friend, as he was leaving the re- 
doubt, called to him for God's sake to stand 
and save his life ; he turned and seemed to 
recognize him, but kept on. Small command- 
ed the men not to fire at him; he threw up 
the muskets with his sword, but in vain, the 
fatal ball had sped. 

The enemy came on, exhausted by their 
desperate efforts, under a blazing sun, and 
broken by the well directed fire. They had 
not force to employ the bayonet, and were too 
much broken and muigled with the enemy to 
fire their pieces. Their right and left w^mgs 
ivere indeed facing each other, with the Amer- 
icans between ; their fire would have cut down 
both friend and foe. While they formed them- 
selves anew, the Americans collected, and 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 251 

made a brave and orderly retreat. Putnam 
put spurs to his foaminsc horse and threw hini- 
self^etween the retreating forct^ and the ene- 
my, wiio were but twelve rods from him;* his 
countrymen were in momentary expectation 
of' seeing this compeer of the immortal War- 
ren tall. He entrea»ed them to rally and re- 
new the fight, to finish his works on Bunker 
Hill, and again give tlie enemy battle on that 
unassailable position, and pledged his honor 
to restore to them afi easy victory. Captain 
Smith of General Ward's regiment came with 
his company to reinforce, joined in the retreat, 
and assiste(5 to keep the enemy at bay. 

The Americans had retreated about twenty 
rods before the enemy had time to rally and 
pour in a destructive fire on them, which des- 
troyed more than they had lost before during 
the day. Colonel Prescott's adjutant was 
shot and crippled. Captain Dow, of his regi- 
ment, was also crippled by a wound in the leg, 
and Captain Bancroft had a part of his hand 
carried off. 



* Deposition of Lyman, then a lieutenant, and pre- 
sent, and Miner, a private in the same company. This 
is confirmed too by the testimony of a distinguished offi- 
cer of the revolution, yet living, ^vho had served with. 
General Putnam in tlie French war, and was present him* 
$tU and badly wounded. 



252 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

The American left wing were openly con- 
gratulating themselves on their victory, when 
their flank was opened by the retreat o£ the 
right. The enemy pressed on them, ancfthey 
were in their turn compelled to retire. Put- 
nam covered their retreat with his Connecti- 
cut troops, and dared the utmost fury of the 
enemy, in tlie rear of the whole. These pur- 
sued with little ardor, but poured in their 
thundering voUies, and showers of balls fell 
like hail around the general.* 

He addressed himself to every passion of 
the troops, to persuade them to rally, to throw 
up his works on Bunker Hill, and make a stand, 
and, as the last resort, threatened them with 
the eternal disgrace of deserting their general. 
He took his stand near a field piece, and seem- 
ed resolved to brave the foe alone. His troops, 
Iiowever, felt it impossible to withstand the 
overwhelming force of the British bayonets ; 
they left him. One sergeant only dared to 
stand by his general to the last ; fie was shot 
down, and the enemy's bayonets were just 
upon the general, before he retired. 



'• This fact we have from a respectable friend, whu 
was present and yet lives, Philip Johnson, Esq. of >: ew- 
buryport. His honor and veracity is surpassed by n(» 
man's. See also deposition of Captain Hills, then en^ 
sign to KnowltODv 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 253 

General Pomeroy continued to animate the 
men, and cut down the enemy himself, till a 
well hove ball shattered his musket. The re- 
treat having commenced, he disdained to turn 
his back; but with backward step and lower- 
ing front shouldered the fragments of his piece, 
and carried off his men, encouraging them to 
pour in their formidable fire on the enemy. 

Captain Trevett, like Callender, was de- 
serted by his men. His lieutenants, Swasey 
and Gardner, stood by him, with but seven 
others, one of whom was Moses Porter, al- 
ready a promising artillerist. He persuaded 
about thirty of the infantry to join in saving 
one of his pieces, the other he was compelled 
to abandon. A British company noticed the 
piece, and determined to seize the prey; they 
pursued, on the top of Bunker Hill were with- 
in thirty yards of them, levelled their muskets 
and fired.. The captain gave up all for lost, 
when but one dropped dead, and another 
wounded, the remainder rapidly descended 
the hill, and carried off with honor the only 
piece saved out of six taken to the field. Gen- 
eral Putnam ordered it to Cambridge. 

The Charlestown company of Colonel 
Gardner's regiment was the last to retreat. 
They were fighting at their own doors, on, 
their own natal soil. They were on the exr- 
treme left, covered by some loose stones 
22. # 



254 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

thrown up on the shore of Mjstic River, dur- 
Hig the day, by order of Colonel Stark. At 
this most important pass into the country, 
against which the enemy made their most des- 
perate efforts, like Leonidas' band they had 
taken post, and like them they defended it; 
till the enemy had discovered another. 

One piece of cannon at the neck opened on 
the enemy and covered the retreat. But these 
were in no condition, and discovered no incli- 
nation to renew the engagement, or pursue 
their advantage, except by a formidable can- 
nonade from their field pieces. They remain- 
ed on Bunker Hill, and lay on their arms dur- 
ing the night. The same was done on Win- 
ter Hill by the New Hampshire troops, and 
by the rest of the Americans on Prospect Hill, 
directly in face of the enemy. 

Major Brooks was retained at Cambridge 
by General Ward, till the last reinforcements 
were sent to Charlestown, when he marched 
with the two remaining companies of his regi- 
ment, and met at the neck the Americans re- 
treating. 

Benjamin Thompson, better known as 
Count Rumford, attended him as a volunteer. 
He was assisting the army by his mathemati- 
cal learning, his estimates and surveys, but 
had solicited an appointment in vain, and had 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 255 

made great but fruitless interest for the com- 
mission in the artillery which was bestowed 
on Major Gridlej. For this gross injustice 
done to his distinguished merit, his country 
suffered well deserved punishment in the mis- 
conduct of his rival, and by the final loss of 
his services, except what they received, in 
common with all mankind, from his splendid 
philosophical discoveries, his glorious and 
beneficent political labors. 

McClary, as attentive to the wants of his 
men as desperate in fighting them, galloped 
to Medford and returned with dressings for 
the wounded. He ordered Captain Dearborn 
to advance toward the neck with his compa- 
ny, whilst he crossed over to reconnoitre the 
enemy. He was returning with Lieutenant 
Colonel Robinson and others, and boasting 
that the shot commissioned to kill him was 
not yet cast, when a cannon ball from the 
Glasgow tore him to pieces. No smaller 
weapon seemed worthy to destroy the gigan- 
tic hero. 

The veteran Gridley entered his sulky at 
Bunker Hill to be carried off. The enemy 
perceived the prey, shot his horse and riddled 
the sulky with balls; but their rage was im- 
potent; meeting some obstruction in the road^ 
he had left the carriage a moment before. 



2i)6 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Prescott repaired to Cambridge, furious as 
a lion driven from his lair, foaming with in- 
dignation at the want of support when victory 
was in his grasp, — a victory dearly purchased 
with the precious blood of his soldiers, family 
and friends. He demanded but two fresh re- 
giments of General Ward, and pledged his 
life with them to drive the enemy to his boats. 
He had not yet done enough to satisfy him- 
self, though he had done enough to satisfy his 
country. He had not indeed secured final 
victory, but he had secured a glorious immor- 
tality. 

Two young men in Boston were employed 
to take the wounded from the boats to the 
hospitals. A young lieutenant, shot through 
the body, was carried by them in a chair to 
his encampment. Passing the streets, pale 
and faint with loss of blood, he attracted the 
humane and generous compassion shown by 
the inhabitants to the wounded ; enmity for- 
gotten, they were all at their doors with re- 
freshing drink for them. 

At the encampment they met Captain Pit- 
cairn, covered with blood. Struck with the 
appearance, the heutenant inquired of him the 
cause, but his grief was too big for utterance, 
" vox faucibus hoesit." A sergeant informed 
him, the captain's father was shot at the 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 257 

breastwork, and the captain carried him to 
the boat, where he died in his arms. 

The hospital was established in a different 
place, to which they repaiied, and witnessed 
a scene to melt the most obdiu'ate enemy. 
The hospital and even the yard was overload- 
ed with wounded, praying in vain for the sur- 
geons to arrest the current of \\[e^ fast ebbing 
fi-om their wounds, but which, from the 
numbers, it was impossible to dress. 

Loud and melancholy waiHngs for the dead, 
from widows of the common soldiers, were 
heard in every street, and struck on the heart 
of the passenger. 

The number of the Americans during the 
battle was fluctuating, but may be fairly es- 
timated at little more than two thousand men. 
Their loss was one hundred and fifteen killed, 
three hundred and five wounded, and thirty 
captured, in all four hundred and fifty.^ The 
following is the loss of the respective corps : 

Regiments. Killed. Woumied. 

Colonels Stark and Reed 15 45 

Colonel Scammons 2 

Genish 5 2 

Whitcomb 5 8 



^ Bievv er 7 11 

•^ General Ward's orderly book. 



258 SUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Regiments, Killed Woundei?. 

Colonel Little 7 23 

Gardner 6 7 

Gri^llej 4 

General Putnam's regiment, 1 

Ca|;tain Coit and ' I 15 30 

Captiiii Chester's companies J 

General Ward " ' 1 6 

Colonel Bvidge 16 29 

Prescott 42 28 

F.je 15 31 

. Nixon 3 10 

— • Wo(fdi)ridge 1 5 

Doolitile 9 

Provincial JVewspapeVi July 15, 1775. 

The Brld-^li loss was one thousand and fifty 
four, Includiug eighty nine officers ; of these 
two hundred and twenty six were killed, in- 
cluding nineteen officers, and eight hundred 
and twenty eight w^ounded, seventy of whom 
were officers. The fifth regiment had one 
officer killed, the fourth one, twenty second 
one, thirty fifth two, thirty eighth one, forty 
third one, forty seventh three, fifty second five, 
four of them were the highest officers of the 
regiment, and thr> only pain they expressed 
from their wounds, was from having received 
them through the back. The sixty third had 
one killed, sixty fifth one, sixty seventh one, 
marines six, and General Howe's aid de camp. 
The fourth regiment had four wounded, fifth 
seven, tenth five, fourteenth one, eighteenth 
one, twenty third four, thirty fifth three, thir- 
ty eighth nine, forty third three, forty seventh 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 259 

five, fifty second five, Mty ninth one, sixty 
third two, sixty fifth four, marines twelve, 
Page, of the engineers, and Jardin, secretary 
to General Howe. All the grenadiers of one 
company were shot storming the works ex- 
cepting ^\e<, and these were led on by the 
oldest soldier. The grenadiers of the Welsh 
fusiliers were reduced to eight, and twenty 
two out of thirty nine grenadiers of the fifty 
second regiment were killed. 



* 



In this battle the British gained a nominal 
victory, but the Americans the only prize con- 
tended for ; they destroyed entirely the phy- 
sical and moral force of the British army, im- 
prisoned them within their narrow lines, and 
prevented their excursions. The enemy nev- 
er after recovered their enterprise and confi- 
dence in America, and by this single battle 
the final success of the American revolution 
was secured. 



* Gentlemen's Magazine for 1775, and Essex Gazette, 
13 July, 1775. 



SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 



General Ward received from the General 
Congress the appointment of first major gene- 
ral and second in command of the American 
army. On the arrival of General Washington 
at Cambridge, he assumed the command of 
the right wing at Roxburj, and his general 
disposition of the troops about Boston was 
sanctioned by the approbation of the comman- 
der in chief."^ From extreme ill health, he 
resigned his commission in April, 1776; but 
notwithstanding his resignation was accepted, 
at the earnest request- of Congress and Gen- 
eral Washington, he continued in command, 
near Boston, until the 20th of March, 1777. 
He was afterward a member of Congress un- 
der the old confederation and present consti- 
tution, and died in 1800, aged seventy three. 

The life of General Putnam has been de- 
tailed by abler hands. 

* Marshall, vol. 2, p. 242. 
23 



262 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

General Thomas was appointed first hng" 
adier general under the United States, in 
1776 was appointed major general, and on the 
death of Montgomery repaired to Canada to 
command the American forces before Quebec. 
Their situation was nearly desperate ; but he 
was too adventurous to relinquish the enter- 
prise without one attempt to secure the fa- 
vors of fortune. He endeavoured to burn 
the enemy's naval force before the city by a 
fire ship, intending to attack the place during 
the conflagration ; but the fire ship miscarried, 
and the general was compelled to order a re- 
treat, during which he died of the small pox 
at Chamblee. 

General Pomeroy expressed his strong 
sense of the blindness of fortune, that, of the 
two volunteer generals in the battle, Warren, 
the young and chivalrous soldier, the eloquent 
and enlightened legislator, should fall, and he 
escape, old and useless, unhurt. From age 
he declined the honorable appointment of 
brigadier general of the United States army, 
and retired from service. But, Hke the vete- 
ran war horse, when the echoes of his majestic 
Connecticut rang with the clarion of battle, 
he spurned the peaceful retreat which his 
long life and long services demanded. He 
preferred even a regiment to inaction, and as 
a colonel marched to join the kindred spirits 
who composed our army in the Jerseys. His 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 263 

Exposures produced a pleurisy, which proved 
fatal at Pecksklll in New York, where his 
country owes hiui a monument, and bravery 
and patriotism perennial fame. 

When Putnam was ordered on what may 
well be styled a tbrlorn hope, to land at Bos- 
ton with a detachment, in face of the army 
and batteries of the enemy, Colonel Prescott 
solicited of him the honor of participating the 
desperate undertaking. But heaven frowned 
at an excess of presumption which her past 
favors had encouraged 5 a violent hurricane 
arrested the enterprise* 

The colonel continued in the service of the 
United States, accompanied General Wash- 
ington to New York, and on the disastrous 
retreat through the Jerseys, he alone was 
able to keep his men in the ranks. They 
proved themselves worthy the hero of Bunker 
Hill, kept the enemy in respect, were exhibit- 
ed to the army as an example worthy imita- 
tion, and the colonel received the cordial 
thanks of Washington in general orders. 

In 1777 he, with a corps of volunteers, join- 
ed General Gates, and served with him till 
victory crowned our arms, and Burgoyne's 
whole army was the trophy. 



264 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

When peace ensued, he became a member 
of the legislature, and in 1787 distinguished 
himself as a magistrate as he had in 1775 as a 
soldier. From the miseries and poverty 
which succeeded the war, many of the suffer- 
ers were driven to oppose the course of legal 
authority. The enlightened patriot employed 
his potent influence to stay the tempestuous 
waves of insurrection. He collected his 
friends and proceeded to Concord armed to 
protect the court in session there against the 
conspirators. He lived to advanced age, and 
we are happy to add he was a christian. 

The veteran Colonel Joseph Frye,* who 
had served in the war of 1756, was at th© 
siege of Louisbourg, and taken prisoner in 
Fort William Henry, immediately after the 
battle the 21st June, was appointed major 
general by the Provincial Congress. He serv- 
ed some time in the revolutionary war, and 
lived to a very advanced age, at Fryeburgh, 
which received its name from his family. 

Colonel Gardner lived a few days after the 
battle, and on being asked if he was Avell 
enough to see his son, " yes," answered the 
hero, " if he has done his duty." Being in- 
formed that he had distinguished himself, he 

' Biothcr of Colonel James Frye. 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 265 

saw him, and died with the glorious consola- 
tion of leaving the invaluable legacy of his 
own fame and his country's gratitude to a son 
worthy to support the honors of his name. 

The life of Major Brooks since the battle of 
Bunker Hill has been far too distinguished in 
the military and political history of America 
to be noticed satisfactorily in a supplement. 
Some biographer may hereafter confer on the 
public, a donation worthy their gratitude, a dis- 
tinct account of this hero and statesman. But 
this cannot be anticipated till the last enemy 
of man has overcome the amiable modesty, for 
which he is equally distinguished as for all his 
higher excellencies, and the requisite informa- 
tion be obtained from his papers which has 
often been solicited in vain from himself. 

When General Washington arrived at 
Cambridge his regiment was distinguished for 
the superior discipline he had introduced, and 
General Gates pronounced him one of the 
first disciplinarians in service. He was ap- 
pointed first inspector of the army under rhe 
Baron Steuben, and afterwards adjutant gene- 
ral for the army on the North River. 

He was distinguished in nearly all the im- 
portant battles of the revolution. He was \i\ 
the battle on Long Island with the reinforce- 
ment, and in that of White Plains. Historj 
23* 



266 BUxNKER HILL BATTLE. 

has recorded him among the most distlngufsh* 
ed commanders of t-he army which achieved 
tfie conquest of Burgojne, and he was in the 
battle of Monmouth as adjutant general. 

From their earliest acquaintance he was a 
favorite of Washington, enjoying his uniform 
friendship, and was honorably distinguished, 
by his selecting him, among the seven generals 
of his choice, to serve with him in 1798. 

During the last war he had the superintend- 
ance of the militia of Massachusetts, directed 
the forces with admirable skill, and secured 
the country from inroads of the enemy. 

For some years he has been elected gover- 
nor and commander in chief of the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, by the voice of the 
people, to the universal satisfaction of all par- 
ties. Over the liberties and free constitutions 
he established as a warrior, he now presides 
as a legislator with distinguished ability. 

The brave Knowlton, from the first mo- 
ment of the batde to the latest period of the re- 
treat, showed himself worthy the distinguish- 
ed honor of being selected as the first among 
the Connecticut captains. 

He afterwards received the commission of' 
lieutenant colonel, and at the battle of Harlem 



BUxVKim HILL BATTLE. 267 

Heights, was sent by Washington to get into 
the enemy's rear j a bloody action ensued ; 
Knovvlton and his men fought the whole force 
of the enemy, of vastly superior numbers, be- 
fore the Americans could attack in front, and 
got the better of them. He restored by this 
gallant affair a glorious moral force to the ar- 
my nearly extinguished by disasters ; but it 
was at the expense of many brave men in the 
unequal contest ; his assistant officer, Major 
Latch, was slain, with three balls through him, 
and he himself reaped immortal honor and im- 
mortal life together. 

-WashiDgton paid due honors to his memory 
in general orders, and declared, " he had died 
"a glorious death, which every soldier ought 
" to wish for, and would have been an honor 
^' to any country on earth." 

The same indignation felt by Colonel Pres- 
cott, at the loss of the battle, was general in the 
army, and throughout the country ; a scruti- 
ny, most severe and unrelentmg, was instituted 
into the conduct of every one, to bring con- 
dign punishment on those whose misconduct 
had caused the final issue. Even Colonel 
Bridge, notwithstanding the severity of his la- 
bors, and the dangerous and honorable wounds 
he received, had to pass the ordeal of a court 
martial. 



268 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

Notwithstanding this inquisitorial research, 
we are happy to add, out of near three thou- 
sand, who, at different stages of the battle, 
must have been engaged in it, and most of 
them for the first time, four only were discov- 
ered guiltj of misconduct. Of these. Major 
Gridley was tried for neglect of duty, Briga- 
dier General Green being president of the 
court, which " find him guilty of breach of 
" orders, and therefore dismiss him from the 
'• Massachusetts service; but on account of his 
"inexperience and youth, and the great confu- 
"sion which attended that day's transaction in 
" general, they do not consider him incapable 
" of a Continental commission, should the gen- 
" eral officers recommend him to his Excel- 
" lency." 

Colonel Mansfield was obviously guilty of 
an error only arising from inexperience. Two 
only were found guilty of cowardice ; of these 
Colonel Gerrish was certainly guilty of a want 
of military ardor and activity, but this was a 
constitutional defect. He was not accused be- 
fore the committee of Congress by General 
Putnam, and, in the opinion of the very re- 
spectable judge advocate who tried him, and 
who yet lives, he was far too harshly treated. 

The only officer apparently guilty of cow- 
ardice, Captain Callander, is a glorious in- 
stance of the buoyancy of real New England 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE, 269 

heroism, and the redeeming efficacy of a pure 
conscience, a mind conscious of rectitude. 
The furious denunciation of Putnam, the con- 
demnation of the court, and thundeiing pro- 
scription of Washington, would liave crashed 
any one forever, who was armed with a pano- 
ply less divine. 

A committee of Congress was appointed to 
inquire into the truth of a report, that some 
officers of the army had been guilty of mis- 
conduct ; they report, that they had made in- 
quiry of General Putnam and other officers, 
who were in the hottest of the battle, and that 
the general charged Captain Callender and 
another artillery officer, with infamous cow- 
ardice, one of the principal causes of the do- 
feat, and informed them that lie would quit 
the service if these officers were not made an 
example of, and that one of them ought to be 
shot. The court martial condemned Captain 
Callender, and General Washington approved 
the judgment, ^' not only from the particular 
*' guilt of Captain Callender, but the fatal 
"consequence of such a conduct to the army, 
" and to the cause of America in general." 

Notwithstanding this, our hero resolved to 
compel the world to acknowledge, by his fu- 
ture conduct, that his past had been mistaken. 
He continued with his corps as a volunteer, 
and desperately exposed himself in twvy ac- 



27i BUKKER HILL BATTLE. 

tion. The brave and beneficent General Knox 
extended to him his friendship. 

At the battle on Long Island, the captain 
and lieutenant of the company of artillery, 
with which he served, were shot; he assumed 
the command, and fought the pieces to the 
last; refused to retreat, and the bayonets of 
the soldiers were just upon him, when a Brit- 
ish officer, admiring his chivah-ous and des- 
perate courage, interfered and saved his life. 

General Washington expressed his high ap- 
probation of his conduct, gave him his hand 
with his most cordial thanks ; ordered the sen- 
tence of the court martial condemning him, 
to be erased from the orderly book, and re- 
stored to him his commission. He held his 
commission during the war, and left the ser- 
vice at the peace, with the highest honor and 
reputation. 

Captain Dearborn was afterwards highly 
distinguished during the revolutionary war 
for his bravery and enterprise. He volunteer- 
ed at the head of a company of men, selected 
from the regiment to accompany Arnold, in 
the winter of 1775, through the trackless 
wilds, to Quebec; an enterprise, which, in dar- 
ing, hardihood and courage, is not surpassed 
by the immortal passage of the Alps by Han- 
nibal. He was major of a battalion of light 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 271 

infantry at Saratoga, and his services were ac- 
knowledged by Gates in the highest terms of 
approbation. Cilley's regiment, of which he 
was lieutenant colonel, was the most distin- 
guished corps in the battle of Monmouth, and 
the salvation of the army was owing to their 
heroic courage. General Washington ac- 
knowledged the service, and sent to inquire 
what regiment it was. " Full blooded yankees 

"by sir," was the answer of Dearborn. 

He was afterwards secretary at war appoint- 
ed by Mr. Jefferson ; and during the last war 
was the first major general and senior officer 
of the American array. 

Porter, the promising artillerist, who stood 
by his piece and his captain to the last, has 
since then risen through every grade of office 
to the rank of brigadier general in the army, 
to which he has ever since belonged ; and has 
maintained an uniform and distinguished repu- 
tation as one of the first artillery officers in 
service. The important post of Norfolk was 
entrusted to his command the last war, and he 
is now stationed at Boston in command of the 
very district which he so bravely contributed 
to defend in 1775. 

General Howe, notwithstanding his wound, 
remained on the field the whole night, watch- 
ing the enemy's movements, and protecting 
his own position ; supporting himself against 



272 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

some hay, he ordered his attendants to pre- 
vent him from falling asleep. 

The morning after the battle, a young gen- 
tleman from Boston went on the ground, and 
recognized the body of Warren, and mention- 
ed the fact. General Howe would not credit 
the account ; it was too improbable that the 
president of Congress was in the battle. One 
of the most eminent physicians of that or the 
present day, and yet living in Boston, was on 
the field ; he had gone over during the battle 
to dress the British wounded, and was yet 
dressing them and the wounded American pris- 
oners, with his usual humanity and skill. Gen- 
eral Howe asked him if he could identify Doctor 
Warren ; he recollected the doctor had lost a 
finger nail and wore a false tooth, and inform- 
ed the general that Doctor W'arren had (i\e 
days before ventured over to Boston in a ca- 
noe to get information, invited him to join the 
American troops as surgeon, and informed 
him that he was himself to receive a commis- 
sion in the army. General Warren was in- 
stantly recognized, and Howe declared this 
victim alone was worth five hundred of his 
me IX, 



BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 273 



Omitted pages 92 and 93* 
Immediately after the battle, the rank of 
major general was conferred on Colonel Grid- 
ley. 

America commenced her revolution with 
but four pieces of cannon, and to his mechani- 
cal science and ingenuity she was indebted 
for the first mortars and cannon ever cast in 
the country. 

After being confined some months by his 
wound, he repaired to Cambridge and super- 
intended the fortifications erecting round bos- 
ton. On the 4th March, 1776, he was again 
engaged in erecting fortifications in the night, 
and the address, science and prodigies of la- 
bor, displayed at Dorchester Heights, were 
perhaps never exceeded, except on Breed's 
Hill. These works expelled the enemy from 
Boston. General Gridiey fortified the heighta 
of this place and the islands in the harbor, 
and General Washington urged him to ac- 
company the army, but his advanced age for- 
bad. He retired on half pay. In 1795 he 
assisted in laying the corner stone of the 
state house, as he had in 1775 to lay the 
corner stone of the state, and lived in re- 
markable health to the age of eighty six, a 
model of courtliness, beneficence and hospi- 

24 



274 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 

tality, as well as all the high perfections of a 
soldier. 

Colonel Stark will be recognised as the he- 
ro of Bennington, but it is not so generally 
known that he employed an ingenious and 
successful expedient to strike a panic into the 
enemy and assist him in achieving his glorious 
victory. He had one iron cannon, but neither 
powder sufficient to employ it, nor balls ; he 
ordered an officer, however, to charge it, wha 
objected the want of balls ; "no matter," said 
the colonel^ " load it with blank cartridge, and 
"let the discharge be the signal for all the 
" troops to rush on the enemy." The Hes- 
sians were panic-struck at the thundering re- 
port, his troops rushed on with loud hurras*, 
and the victory was complete* 



; 



ERRATA. 



Page 272, line 4, after "gentleman from 
Boston" add the following note. 

General Winslow, yet living. Another 
friend of the author, yet living, was within 
six feet of Warren when he fell, and received 
himself a ball through the thigh. 

Page 183, 1. Unread Major Box, an experi- 
enced, &;c. P. 202, 1. 2, for defence, read 
defensi^^e. P. 211, 1. 17, for side, on front, 
read side, or front. P. 222, 1. 4 from bottom, 
for spare, read sparse. P. 233, 1. 14,/or huzza, 
read hurra. P. 263, 1. 2, for Peckskill, read 
Peekskill. P. 267, 1. 1 1, for Latch, readhehch. 
P. 189, 1. 4 from bottom, omdt his, P. 199, 
1. 3 from bottom, omit and. P. 272, 1. 3 
from bottom, ybr Howe, read the enemy. P. 
183, 1. IS, for two, read four. P. 221, f. 19, a/- 
ier Boston, insert the principal part of. Same 
page, 1. 28, erase a large portion of. P. 258,^ 
L 1 5^ for Provincial, read Providence. P. 2579- 
L 22, after killed, add and missing. 



276 BUNKER HILL BATTLE. 



We neglected to mention that Honorable 
James. Winthrop, and James Swan, Esquire, 
accompanied the reinforcements to Breed's 
Hill, with their muskets, as volunteers, fought 
valia*itly, and the former was wounded. 



Note. The author was necessarily absent 
from town during the whole time the work 
w^s in the press. 



THE Ex\D. 



